My Brand New 'Baby'

Introducing my new 'Baby.'

Ok, well maybe I should be more specific, introducing my new Baby Lock sewing machine. And I know the box says, 'Grace,' but her name is actually Hazel. I love the name Hazel and since Jas vetoed the name Hazel for Had, I decided to give it to my new girl.

Here she is!!! Pretty, huh? I haven't had a chance to sit down and become completely acquainted with her...I can already think ahead and daydream of the hours and hours that she and I will spend together creating beautiful things.

I began with a Brother sewing machine that my mom so generously gave me in January and while it was a great machine for me when I was just starting out, I was ready for an upgrade. And since my mom will do anything to keep me motivated in sewing, she was eager to share with me a mailer announcing that this machine would be on sale for Memorial Day. I was feeling guilty purchasing something for 'just me,' (it happens as soon as you have kids; 'selfish purchases' become few and far between). However, I did think ahead of the adorable, coordinating shirts that my girls are sure to have for the summer. And to tease Jas, I told him about 'her,' and told him she cost $1800...just feeling him out to see what he REALLY thought of my potential purchase. His response (being the incredibly supportive husband that he is) was, 'Well, I can pick up some side work...I think you should get it.' I LOVE THIS MAN!! I then settled the fears, that he was doing such a great job of hiding, and told him the 'real price,' followed by the bonus of the store crediting me the full retail amount of my 'Brother' machine off of 'Hazel.'

Can you believe I got her for less that 50% off the regular retail price?

I know Dawn, I just couldn't pass this opportunity up. And don't worry the girls are sure to have some more goodies made for them. Hey!!!...I just figured out your motivation is persuading me to get 'her.' Hee Hee.

So as soon as Birthday Season calms down around here...this is the stack of beautiful fabric that awaits my creative mind. It seems as though I have been VERY BUSY sewing for others...which I am forever grateful for and' while I still have 2 more aprons to be created for a friend to give as a 'His and Hers' wedding gifts (I'll be sure and post pics, they are cute), I am looking forward to making my girls some fun, coordinating pajama pants!

Here is my 'cutting table.' I love EVERYTHING about it. I love the table itself...a trade from Margee. It's a great, vintage, drop leaf table. And in the picture are my paternal Grandparents, Lewis and Violet Lindsay. It is an adorable picture. And of course a bouquet of dried hydrangeas that make me smile at the drop of a pin...and being my sewing room...there are LOTS OF PINS DROPPED! :-)

And Finally....the owners manual. BORING!!! I don't have any immediate plans in reading this; as I don't have much free time lately; and even if I did...I would rather watch paint dry.

I hope that each of you is enjoying some relaxing time with your loved ones on this three-day-weekend...and God Bless America and those who make sacrifices to protect our freedoms.

P.S. Today, while spending the day with 6 of some of my most favorite girls, we watched a young bald eagle fly over us not more than 40 feet away...it was an incredible moment. And I just couldn't help but think of how Blessed I am to live in Washington and be able to witness such a majestic occurrence. A very fitting sight for Memorial Weekend.

We Have Lift Off....

After some success at the Funky Junk Sisters Show last weekend, Margee, Bri and I decided that we needed to create a blog that was dedicated to our 'treasure hunts,' shows and our projects in the works. Thus, our blog, http://www.4thavenuegals.blogspot.com/ was born. I do hope that you'll add us to the list of blogs that you follow and keep up on our latest adventures.

(we do love ourselves some classic old pickups)

Thanks for all of your love and support so far...without you, success would be minimal.

Hope that the weekend treated you well....we are looking forward to this upcoming 3-day Memorial weekend. It'll be a busy one...Had's birthday on Friday and Jas' on Sunday.

But throughout the celebrating, we will be sure and take a moment to be grateful for those American's who have risked their lives, for those who make daily sacrifices to defend our country and our freedoms!

What Blessings!!

Today's rainy, icky, gray, soggy (you get the idea) weather has kept me out of my garden (I had big plans, too) and provided me the opportunity to do some "Blog Surfing;" is that even a real phrase? I am feeling so incredibly Blessed to have met so many great people (mostly women) last weekend at the Funky Junk Sisters Show in Puyallup. As I was 'surfing' I came across of few of the other incredible vendors that we were so fortunate to meet and I want to share their blogs with you.

Among them:

-Linda and Dixie at http://www.funkyjunksisters.blogspot.com/

-Kim Tayor at http://www.mimicharmante.blogspot.com/

-Diane at www.mollymos03@blogspot.com

-Martha at http://www.vintagetrifles.blogspot.com/

-Junkies-A Sisterhood of Traveling Junk (no address, but they are on facebook)



This is only a taste of the amazing women that I met, but they definately left a lasting impact on me...and I am really hoping that our adventures will allow us to cross paths again, soon.



So, if you find yourself sitting on the couch on a rainy day, while your babies are sleeping and youre flipping through channels trying to find something decent to watch (anything on Bravo will usually do)...ok it's NOT decent, but it is entertaining...you can log in and do some 'Blog Surfing' of your own.

Oh! Rainy Days...a Blessing in disguise!

SUNDAY!!!...already? I mean Tuesday!

Alright...so here I sit...Sunday morning...in a nice and quiet house. Jas is at Happy Donuts (a weekend ritual for he and the girls) and I can't help but sit and rethink my busy, busy weekend.
I'll start by thanking Jas profusely. He took Thursday and Friday off so that I could get all of our stuff packed up and ready for the

Funky Junk Sisters Show.

I COULD NOT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ANY OF WHAT I DID WITHOUT HIS HELP. HE IS SO SUPPORTIVE, LOVING AND DOWNRIGHT AMAZING!!!

And I am downright grateful for having such a wonderful man in my corner!

Thank you Lord for creating such a perfect partner for me!

Thursday, the girls and I packed up our 'mock' booth from our garage and got it all loaded up into Margee's van, Bri's truck and our truck. I was shocked that it all fit it there.

But we are VERY GOOD packers...and they were loaded to the gills.

Thankfully the show was only about 8 minutes from our homes. We arrived at around 5:30 and began unloading and hauling stuff into the venue.

Here we are lined up getting our convoy situated before heading off on our adventure.

We work so well as a team.

Here is what our booth looked like at the end of Thursday night as we wandered out around 10pm.

Here we are EAGER for the doors to open Friday night.
Here is another picture of what our booth looked like as you walked in. We had a great array of different finds because Bri, Margee and I rarely ventured out together in search of treasures and we each have our own goodies that we are immediately drawn to. Mine being anything metal and rusty and of course I LOVE metal baskets and old abandoned garden tools. I like to think that each rake, shovel, etc has a story behind it and that they have been used to help carefully prepare dirt to grow something delicious.


I LOVE THIS PICTURE!
The three of us wanted our booth to have an immediate fun feel as soon as you walk in...thus came these incredibly cheery aprons and of course Converse! Here is another picture of us three in front of the cutest 'ole pickup.

I believe it belongs to the Funky Junk Sisters...and IT IS CUTER IS PERSON! 'The Sisters' were gracious enough to let us borrow it for a photo session...led by the cutest gal (with an amazing camera) Kim Taylor (http://www.mimicharmante.blogspot.com/). She was so enthusiastic and sweet and took some pictures of our booth, our aprons, our shoes, etc. I think she could be my new best friend....completely adorable. Be sure and check our her blog.

Here is an early Saturday morning picture of us three lovelies. We gathered back at the show around 9:15am (me after a Starbucks stop) and made a quick decision to 'revamp' our booth to give it a brand new feel for those returning to scour for new treasures. The doors opened at 10am and we were ready for another go of it.

So after Saturday was over...the three of us decided that WE WILL DEFINITELY DO THIS AGAIN. We had a wonderful time, met some fun people and even sold a few things (the hubbs are happy). I'll be sure and keep you all posted about our next sale.

Oh and did I mention that it is now Tuesday night...it took me a little longer to post this than I intended....better late than never, right?

Oh and to prove that I have not been over-consumed with our show...here is a picture that I took of Jas and Had last night having a discussion in the backyard.

And also one of one of our roses, Cecil Brunner...just getting ready to make his yearly appearance over our pergola. He makes me smile and smells so good.