The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walk!

For the second year, my dear sister spent the night and got up up the crack of dawn to beat the crowds at the breast cancer walk here in Newport Beach. There turned out to be 30,000 people but we did our walk and visited all of the booths we needed to early. Last year it was so crowded we could hardly walk. This year we could walk alot easier except for my legs hurt from my move. It is very inspirational, especially since I am now part of a special group; breast cancer survivers. I got my one year beads this year!

A sweet vintage cameo pin.....

made modern!

I love these pins from Italy but they are pricey! So I got an idea and bought a lovely shell cameo from ebay (yes, there are major deals on these! Just make sure you get the real thing and not a plastic copy!). I took a piece of wool felt, slit the backing for the pin to come through and glued it to the back of the cameo. I then took 2 different kinds of pearls and added them one at a time. I worked on it as a large square and after stitching, I trimmed it right next to the stitching line. I think it turned out beautifully. I will happily wear it!

Morry the Mouse is born!

I was feeling creative this weekend and decided to make a mouse. He is not my original design but a variation of another artist's. But how cute is he? He is now offered on my website ........

Merry Christmas!

Thanks to all of my loyal customers and friends that I have grown to know and love over the past 19 yrs. WOW! Happy Holidays and see you next year!

Blessings,

Linda

All Done!

Crocheted Flour Sack Dishtowels

Remember these? I still have the ones my Mom made each Christmas before I lost her in 1989. I've always wanted to make these and finally found a pattern and TIME to get some done. They are fun to make while you watch TV...... hope my sister doesn't look here cuz she will see one of her Christmas gifts this year!

My New Christmas Tree!

It has now been 6 Christmases since I put up my wonderful, BIG Christmas tree. Following a divorce, and not wanting to go thru that ornament box, etc. I have just done my 4 ft. tall, skinny, primitive tree up with my HUGE Raggedy Ann and Andy ornament collection. Well, I decided it's time to have a grown-up tree.





My sister and I had so much fun laying all of the new ornaments out on the floor at Kohl's weeks before the Christmas rush (and still 50% off!) with my new "Beach" theme. Out with the old, in with the new! I got adorable Santa's in boats, surfing, and sitting under a palm tree, and even a lobster in a grass skirt! Here are some pictures....




Look at the mini-flip-flops!

I've been quiet......

I only have 7 more radiation treatments- hooray! Not sure if I wrote that I had been diagnosed with breast cancer in August of this year, had a lumpectomy and now am finishing my radiation. I didn't have to have chemo. thank goodness. But I will be cancer-free when this is all done and hopefully will never have to deal with this nasty thing again!

Here are a couple of pictures of my Halloween/Birthday party on Oct. 25th. The dogs had to be in costume and I had 5 dogs at the party. We had fun! That is my sister Gayle above and me below!

Polly is on ebay!

Here is a picture of sweet Polly, my latest offering on ebay. More new treasures to follow.......

New York!

I went and I saw and it was AMAZING! What a great way to celebrate my big 5-0!

I got to stop at Martha Stewart's favorite store, Tinsel Trading Company. They sell all kinds of goodies, vintage and new including all kinds of floral and ribbons. I had a fun time there and left alittle $$ there too! Here are pics of the shop

And here are some of my treasures.......

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Following my breast cancer diagnosis a month ago, my sister Gayle and I had the luck of joining in on a HUGE fundraising opportunity~ The Susan G. Koman Race for The Cure~ to support breast cancer research and awareness. This is not us but a couple of wonderful Survivors. There were over 30,000 people participating in the race (we did the 1 mile fun walk) and they hope to have raised over 2 million dollars! We were 2 small peas in a huge pod of loving, caring women and we had the pleasure of speaking with alot of them. They gave me advise on my own treatment and lots of support as I wander through this new land. Here's a picture of me and Gayle after the race!

A new prim cross stitch!

Here is my latest stitchery and newest passion for my own home.

This is an adorable pattern by Stacy Nash (thanks Stacy!) and I am anxious to do some more of these delightful stitcheries. Halloween is my favorite holiday. I made this into a pocket and am still trying to figure out what I can stick inside. I began at 10 yrs. old with cross stitch and here I am again! This was stitched on osnaburg muslin with 2 strands of embroidery floss. Fun!

Halloween is on it's way!

Here are some cool earrings my friend Lisa gave me yesterday to get ready for Halloween! It is my favorite time of year and THIS year I am having a Halloween party. The decorations I have gotten are awesome! Hooray!

My New bathroom!

I finally have gotten some more color on the walls and here is my old and new guest bathroom. Guess I better post pictures of MY bathroom soon too! It is so much fun putting colors on my walls again and making my little cottage my own. Next, the bedroom before the new flooring comes in......

More Decorating!

Since it looks like I will be staying in my cottage by the sea for awhile, my decorating continues. Today I ordered new flooring for 1/2 of my house. Half of the house is already tile and the other half is a cream carpet. Not good with dogs and the beach, so I ordered the most beautiful laminate today! I can't believe it is laminate; what they are doing these days is amazing. This is really thick and even has ridges and planks like real wood. I am one lucky girl! I have pictured it next to my TV armoire..... pretty!

Surgery

Well, it turned out to be cancer so after TONS of painful tests and procedures, I had surgery on Friday. I had a lumpectomy and the lymph node they took was negative so I hope they got it all. I will find out on Tuesday. Meanwhile, I am bound up like a mummy. Praise God I was able to get this taken care of so quickly; my surgeon never operates on Fridays but was there for me. And the staff was excellent! If you ever have needs like this, I can't recommend Hoag Hospital's Breast Center more. They are world-renowned as is my surgeon and radiologist. God is good!

Possible Big "C"

I went in yesterday for another mammo. and ultrasound and I have a mass in my left breast. This AM I go back for a needle biopsy. Please pray that it turns out to be nothing otherwise I will have to have surgery this weekend because my insurance runs out on Sunday. THAT SUCKS! I don't want to have to spend Labor Day weekend dealing with this. I want to order new flooring!

Finally painting my home!

I have decided I can't live without MORE color than I already have going on (being an artist) so I am starting to paint. Here is my kitchen before and after paint. You can also see part of my vintage floral enamelware collection. I love them so and could not part with them when I moved. I skinnied down alot of my collections but this is one I didn't want to. I'm just getting started!

The Presidential Forum

I was lucky enough to participate in the Civic Forum between Obama and McCain, facilitated by my own Pastor Rick Warren! It was very exciting to be a part of this historic event. My friend Shirley and I were not allowed to bring in cameras or cellphones (even though some cheaters did!) so I have no pictures. But we got to sit in the most comfy, theatre-style chairs on the campus. It was like sitting at home and watching it on a huge screen. We got to sit in the newest building on campus: The Refinery. It is where teens hang out and it is beautiful. Everything went so easily for us it was amazing. The secret service and police were out in force and there were even snipers on the rooftops (even tho' we didn't see them. ) It was a once in a lifetime event that I wish everyone could've watched. I'm not saying who I am voting for (think of bam bam!) and I wouldn't have known how to vote had I not seen it. Rick did an awesome job and I'm sure he was very nervous about it, but you would not have known it. This was a HUGE undertaking for our church and they pulled it off beautifully!

A Mermaid is born.....

I just finished this sweet mermaid punchneedle. Isn't she cute? She is from a design by my friend Kathi @ Heart to Hand. Now that I live across from the beach, I thought I needed her! I LOVE to punchneedle! And I am keeping her for myself.