grrrr

Okay, the link that I posted for the new blog doesn't work. So manually type in www.handstowork.typepad.com and you should get there.
Later....

new blog

Hi all, I'm trying out a new blog. I love it as it's so much easier to post pictures and add links. Go to www.handstowork.typepad.com and let me know what you think.
Happy Saturday!

What is Bliss?

Bliss is two great danes running through a field at top speed, stopping ocassionally to make sure the owners are still there and finishing up the run with a dip in a dirty pond. Courtney and I took Chloe and Violet for a long walk today and they were so happy. And dirty. And came home sleepy! Oh how I wish Maggie was still up to the long walks. Her hips are just too weak to do it any longer. But in her younger days....she would have been swimming in the pond until I forced her out!

I have learned to knit! I have to tell you that I turned up my nose at knitting for the longest time and now I can't stop! It's so addicting. And for you wonderful customers who have been patiently waiting for your orders of journals and mermaids, I'm finishing up the orders today. I have had to hide the yarn so I can get some real work done.

I have so many ideas for new designs floating around my head. But nothing has made it into the design program on the computer. I'm going to do better...I'm going to do better. Really what I wish is that you all could come over, sit in my family room with me and knit all day!

Happy, happy weekend!

I'm Proud To Be From West Virginia!

I received this from an email this morning and thought I would share. For all you Mountaineers out there...enjoy!
Because of our mountains, we have rivers. The oldest river in theWestern Hemisphere, the New River (quite appropriately named, don't youthink) ends in West Virginia. We have the Gauley River, which confluence'swith the New River in a magnificent cascade to form the Kanawha River, whichin turn flows through the center of the State, and directly through thecapital city of Charleston, the largest city in West Virginia. These riversin addition to the Cheat, Blackwater, Tygart, Monongahela, Ohio andcountless others offer tremendous recreational opportunities.The tallest building in Charleston is barely 25 floors tall! ,which, ifyou think about it, is a plus; how could you possibly build askyscraper more beautiful than a mountain?The capital city stretches throughout the long river valleyencompassingboth hill and dale.The Charleston airport, the largest in the State, sits on top of a mountain. The crime rate in Charleston, including the entirepopulation of the Kanawha Valley (around 200,000), reflects that of theentire State, the lowest in America. No more than a handful of murders are committed each year.Charleston has no subway systems, but, truth be known, you can get from one end of town to the other, even in rush hour traffic, in less than ten minutes.There are three major interstate systems going through Charleston,the smallest city in America to make such a claim.The entire State has six different interstate systems, meaning, from Charleston, you can reach Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati,Pittsburgh, Louisville or Charlotte in four hours or less....Ah, but once you leave the interstates, the drive becomes a thing of wonder. Two lane roads, winding up and down the mountains, offer amazing views and historic places, small towns, poor in wealth but rich in history.West Virginia is the birthplace of Mother's Day, in Grafton; and Father'sDay, in Fairmont.We have the oldest covered bridge still in use. We have walnutfestivals. strawberry festivals, apple festivals and pumpkin festivals andbuckwheat festivals , and arts and crafts fairs and stern wheel regattas and ramp dinners.We have Bridge Day, on the New River Gorge Bridge over 800 feetabove the New River; the only standing structure in the United States that, one day a year, allows parachuting and bungee jumping.We have college basketball, and minor league baseball and hockey, and, just like all of America, Friday night high school football.We have white water rafting, and skiing, and hiking, and caves, and waterfalls, and camping in every direction. We have Sundays where a leisurely drive in the car can take eight hours, and only cover 100 miles.We have bed and breakfasts, and resorts, and golf courses, andmuseums, and the Greenbrier Hotel. West Virginia has more natural beauty and wonder than any person could ever imagine.We have all of this, and yet .... our greatest asset is our people.West Virginians are good people. We care about each other. We talk to our neighbors over the backyard fence.We grow tomatoes for the entire neighborhood. We turn around in each other's driveways, and yell "howdy" when we do.We sit on the porch on warm summer evenings, listening to crickets, and watching kids catch fireflies.We loan a hammer, or a cup of sugar. We don't take two-hour lunches, but we do spend a few minutes each day with a cup of coffee, and our feet upon our desk, shooting the breeze.We rarely get in a hurry. We have relatives just down the street. We don't just loan someone a socket wrench, we help them fix their car. Weshare recipes, and gardening tips, and our last cup of coffee. We baby-sit each other's kids, we housesit each other's dogs while we're on vacation, and we loan each other our cars if we have to get to the drugstore.We ask each other if we need anything as we're going to the market.We celebrate each others accomplishments, and we cry over eachother's disappointments.We are a friendly folk. We are West Virginians.Mountaineers are always free! Free to take the time to enjoy life,and hold each moment in our hearts, forever.

Niky's Stitching

Niky from Italy sent these pictures to me ages ago and I promptly lost them in the computer somewhere. So when I saw her in Nashville, I asked her to resend. Aren't they wonderful?! She is a wonderful stitcher and just as cute as can be! Thanks Niky!!!

Look At This

Lori from La D Da has a fantastic purse she made from the Ida Nolt design and I've been lusting for it since last year. I've asked for it but she won't share. So I decided to take the directions that she gave me and have someone make my own. When I was looking for lining fabric for the design I found a Moda purse purchased from a quilt shop and whip stitched Florwers For Thee on the front. Cute, huh? I can't wait to go out tomorrow with it!