More Macro & a Message

Enjoy the macro...

You gotta love little hands picking petals...

DH & I will be celebrating our anniversary this week so I am taking a blogging holiday. See you in a week! I am certain I will have lots of exciting things to share then!

Bad Day

Today was an incredibly hard day at work. It was very long. There was a LOT of paperwork and a delivery that kept me away from hubby late (hence the late macro shot above). Yelling was even involved (why must people yell???) *Sigh* Just all in all...a long day. My DH was great though...my knight in shining armour with the sushi. The takeout all set up for me when I got home was such a lovely sight...but I was too tired and too hungry to grab the camera (darn). Maybe next time.

Vintage Button Goodness

I've been sorting and washing all of my vintage buttons trying to get everything all organized (have I ever mentioned that I have a sort of OCD personality?) While doing all of this I learned two important lessons: 1. a vintage muffin tin is the cutest (and most handy) thing ever to help sort buttons. 2. I have waaayyy to many cute buttons and I know I will never be able to use them all. Hmm...maybe a vintage button swap is in the works. Anyone interested?

And the winner is...

With DH out of town and unavailable to assist me with the drawing...I had to rely on my friend Mr. Tree to hold the fishbowl so I could draw the winner with one hand while using my other hand to master the camera in order to document the occasion.

And the winner is...

Congrats to chikaustin the winner of The Stitching Surgeon's first giveaway!

Thanks again to all who participated! I'm planning another giveaway soon to celebrate my 100th post. :)

Thanks / Macro Catch Up

Thanks to all who participated in my giveaway and promoted it on their blogs - many, many thanks! After accounting for all of the bonus entries there were quite a few comment slips that filled up my fishbowl. I'll be posting the winner tomorrow!

Today's post will be dedicated to macro catch up...I can't get enough of all of the spring flowers!
Enjoy the pictures!

Yummy Vintage Fabric

I visited my grandmother this weekend and she gave me some goodies from her stash. I had to tell you all about this one because I love it. It is a scrap piece of vintage screen printed linen in a patchwork pattern and it is delicious and I love it. I wear my hair in a ponytail daily (unless I am in clinic for the entire day and then sometimes I will go wild and let my hair down) and since the greatest personalization I have regarding my wardrobe (hospital issue green scrubs) are my socks, shoes and hair accessory... these snazzy ponytail holders are just my cup of tea and I've made tons of them for my own use. I just made these from a few snippits of this vintage scrap and they are my new favorites. Just look at the texture of that fabric! And the colors! What is not to like??? Can't wait to wear one tomorrow...

Don't forget tomorrow is the last day to sign up for the giveaway!

Drumroll, please. Etsy shop & A GIVEAWAY!!!

I'm opening an etsy shop!

http://www.stitchingsurgeon.etsy.com

April 12, 2008, at noon EST

My new shop will feature handmade items & vintage goodies. I have a bunch of vintage aprons, fabrics, sewing notions & linens that I must (sadly) part with simply because I am running out of room in my little house! However, the only thing that makes me feel a little better about parting with my beauties is that all of my vintage goodness will be going to good homes of bloggers/crafters who love this stuff as much as I do. I will also be putting some of the sewing projects I have been working on up in the shop (a girl can only have so many bags, headbands, baby gifts on hand, etc.).
The grand opening of the shop (if all goes well) will be tomorrow, April 12, 2008, at noon EST.

To celebrate the grand opening I am also hosting my first giveaway!

If you are the lucky winner you will receive a stash of goodies including:

• a bag of vintage buttons
• a selection of vintage trims based on your favorite color (be sure to list your favorite color in your comment below so I have some sort of idea of which to send you!)
• a fat quarter of each of the three vintage fabrics pictured above

Here are the rules:

1. To be entered all you have to do is leave a comment! Be sure to tell me your favorite color!
2. For and extra chance to win, tell a friend...if they come to my blog and leave a comment with your name as the person who referred them not only do they get a chance, but you get one extra entry into the giveaway for every person who lists you as the reason they landed here at my blog.
3. For an even greater chance to win, if you blog about my new etsy shop and giveaway on your blog with a link back here to my blog you get 5 extra entries (just be sure to leave a link to your blog with your comment so I know to credit your extra entries!)
4. For the granddaddy chance to win, if you make a purchase at my etsy shop you will be granted 10 extra entries.

Clear as mud???

All entries must be submitted by 6pm EST on Thursday, April 17, 2008. The winner will be posted Friday, April 18, 2008.

I'm so excited for all of this...I never imagined I would love the blogging community this much! You all are great! Good luck!

This isn't the big news.

I had to throw this out there before the big news so you will be getting 2 posts today!

I found this 30 days of macro via Bettyninja's blog and although I am joining a little late, I have to participate! Too fun!

These will just be very short posts each time...big on photo...skinny on words.

Macro of the day:

The Big News is coming up next...

ANOTHER baby gift...

...in the bag and ready to go!

One of my colleagues is having a baby (I know...it's in the water around here!) so I whipped up this little gift to give to him which includes a luscious pear onesie and a trio of boutique burp cloths. Like the gift bag? I made it myself! Now, I just have to add the tissue paper...oh wait, we don't have any more left at home because it all caught on fire while I was stuffing the last baby gift. Note to self (and others): candles are not a good idea in your sewing studio.

Have a great day everyone! Don't forget to check back tomorrow for my BIG NEWS!

I'm bursting at the seams...

...to tell you some BIG NEWS!

(to my family: no, I'm not pregnant!)

Oh, I can't wait...but I must...until Friday.

So, come back around on Friday (April 11) for my big news.

The Perfect Band

Finally! After many many tries...I got it! The perfect headband. I really love headbands - especially now that I have little strands of hair I am trying to grow out - with ponytails. They are cute and functional. However, I have not been successful in finding one that was comfortable (didn't give me a headache from being too tight) and did not slide off my head as the day progressed. So what's a sewer to do? Make one! After many trials (Bend the Rules Heidi headband and other online tutorials) I decided just to try it on the fly...and it is perfect. I'm in love with my new headband. Hopefully, I can re-create it.

Baby Burp Cloths

Baby Gift Completed!

One of the nurses is going to deliver next week and I wanted to make sure this gift was all wrapped up so I would be able to give it to her in the hospital. I love boutique-ish burp cloths! The baby girl will have a nursery decorated in sage & red with dragonflies and ladybugs. So...I made these burp cloths with the same theme. I bundled them all together with bakers twine and secured it with a double vintage button closure. I wrapped the burp cloths in tissue paper sealed with a gold sticker that says "Home Made" and then tucked them in a plain brown gift bag tied with red ric rac. It looked super cute if I may say so! :) Hope she likes it!

A Day at the Races

DH & I spent the day at the horse races. The horses, grounds and people who attended were all beautiful. :) Afterward, we went to the grocery store, made dinner (yummy lemony tuna salad - Kate see recipe below!) and now we are headed to bed to snuggle in and enjoy our books. What a great weekend this is turning out to be!

Here is the recipe for one of my new favorite dinners:

Lemony Tuna Salad

Serves 4, Prep Time 20 min (per the mag...I made it in like 10 min!)

(from EveryDay with Rachael Ray, April 2008)

1. In a large bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup of mayo, 4 tsp lemon juice and 2 tsp grated lemon peel (I love this part because I get to use my microplane grater - love it!!!). Season with salt & pepper.
2. Add one 6oz. can of solid white tuna, drained, breaking it apart slightly with a fork.
3. Add 1 cup of canned white beans, rinsed.
4. Add 1/2 cucumber, cut into cubes, and 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion (I leave this part out - I'm not the biggest fan). Again, season with salt & pepper.
5. Arrange romaine lettuce on to plate. Top with tuna salad and tomatoes (either 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, halved, or your choice!)

Enjoy!

(*photo above from http://ww2.keeneland.com/default.aspx)

Alpaca anyone?

Lately, I keep dreaming of beautiful alpaca sweaters, scarves and mittens (I know it is spring...but it's still cold!). As I was daydreaming about this during my time at the gym today I couldn't help think of this little guy I met while at the Winter's Gone Farm in Wiscasset, ME. I mean, how cute is that?!? And oh my, my, my...the alpaca's coat is super soft and cuddly. Visit their shop here. I have never regretted an investment in alpaca :) I purchased this coat (only mine is chocolate & red) and these mittens (in chocolate) when I visited their farm this past fall and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them. If you are ever in this area of Maine this little attraction is definitely worth your time. The alpacas themselves are so beautiful and soft, the little farm is very nice and the shop is a hidden gem.

I know this post is totally random...I don't know why but I just can't get alpaca out of my brain right now...

Sorry for the lack of posts this week...work has been crazy busy.