Spotlight on.....Me?

Oh...the bright lights, the glamor, the sequin dress, the tiara...my future is just sew bright! Thanks to blockheadradio!

What am I talking about? Take a look here!

AND, check THIS OUT! WOOTS!

Do you know about the CPSIA?

Holly from Winklepots and Gretchen from Chichiboulie have combined forces in this well-written piece regarding the CPSIA. Thank you to both of you for allowing us to copy and paste! Please read:

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.blogger.com/1%09http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

Another Manic Monday ~~Enjoy~~

Weekend over...back to work.



How is your manic Monday going?

The Etsy Angels ~Another Wonderful Team~

I belong to another awesome etsy team….Etsy Angels. (Read about our charities, members, and ALL their shops on our blog here.) It is fitting that today, this lovely Sunday afternoon, that I would blog about a few of our talented ANGEL members. You can also visit our promotional monthly forum, here. This is the spot on etsy where we chat and hope to lure etsy buyers to our shops and our charities that are benefited by our sales.

This month's charity is the Anderson House. Please read what Mona, AKA SewingGranny has written about the Anderson House on her blog here. I am going to feature some purple items from some of these shops because the symbol of the Domestic Violence Movement is the purple ribbon. You can read more about the Domestic Violence Movement here. Watch for more of my blogs to feature more of our members!

Our ANGEL TEAM moderator, Amanda, AKA wildlifer78 has some awesome items in her Chloe Boutique shop. Here is my favorite purple item from her shop:

Our Etsy Angel Team Co-moderator and fellow quilter Mona, KA sewinggranny has this lovely purple item in her shop. AND... another great etsy angels supporter, Chris, AKA, CraftsbyChris. This is her awesome purple item.

Another awesome angel is Melana from Ozarkana. He shop is called ByNannasHands. She also has a noteworthy blog where she is currently blogging about the CPSIA. Please check out her blog and read what she has to say here. Don't you want this wonderful little turtle to stick around in her shop?

Last, but not least I would like to feature the only male, thus far of our etsy angel group, Chris of ShopRedLeaf. He has some awesome products. Here is a little something you might want to consider for the man in your life for Valentine's Day? Mmmmm....I am thinkin' McStevie might like?

Plugging the Pluggers United Team ~~Five for Friday~~

I belong to a wonderful etsy team called Pluggers United. I picked 5 members shops from the team to Plug today. I want to share with you a favorite of mine from each of their shops...please take a moment and visit their shops via the link on their shop name. You won't be sorry.

I love this piece of jewelry - it is my absolute fav from the shop of storybeader. The colors just blend wonderfully!


And isn't this just the sweetest dress for your little valentine from mamaslittlemonkeys? Mmm...yummy!


And how about this sweet black and white bag from ceejaybags? Lovely to go out on the town...and it's on sale! Woots!

And this awesome bag from TiLTcreations! It looks like something Michelle Obama would have on her hip!

AND this is just the most exquisite piece of jewelry from my buddy Lily of TulipsTreasureBox. Is it not absolutely gorgeous? She offers layaway at her shop, too.

I will continue to plug a New Five on Friday, (maybe not every Friday, life gets in the way, you know) for the Pluggers United Team, so watch for more posts.

Simple Pleasures Thursday ~ Reading~

My simple pleasures for today is READING.

Getting lost in a book is just sew wonderful.

My taste in books has a vast range. I loved all of Harry Potter's adventures. And yet, The Shack by William P. Young moved me to my very soul, a story of one's quest for finding God in a sea of pain.

Today I finished Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer. A book I wasn't sure I could get my head around, let alone my eyes. Alright, I am rather late to jump on this literary band wagon, after sew much fuss about it. My daughter-in-law convinced me that I would enjoy it, so on my last visit to Wallymart it stared at me and drew me in. For $5.95, if I detested it, I could just give it away without remorse or thought. BUT...no...I did not detest it. In fact, I became "bitten" by this powerful love story of two teenagers that are on a quest to be together no matter what dangers they face. I cannot wait to get to the store and get New Moon, the next book in the series. Lucky for me I still have a Borders gift card from my birthday.

And, yes, me, a grandmother of two can actually relate to young love having married my high school sweetheart, McStevie. We were very much in love when he was selected for the AFS program and would spend his summer in France at the end of his junior year. I was excited that he would have adventures I couldn't imagine in my little hometown world, but crushed that we had "found each other" and now he would go off and forget about me entirely. Find some french sweetheart and forever be gone. Well, of course, all of that is history, but one doesn't forget the heartache of being apart from the one you love. Mind you, it does not compare to the vampire world (smirk, smirk, how would I know?), but I just need to illustrate while now in my 50's, I still have those young memories.

So, my point today is I am thankful to have eyesight, (allbeit aging) to enjoy curling up with a book and getting lost in the mere wonderment, the mere joy, the mere pain, or whatever the author has decided you should feel. And then again, thankful to be alive and be able to feel those emotions.

Pick up a book today and get lost. Better yet, share with me your thoughts. Which book makes you giddy.....sad....thoughtful?

Sisterhood Award

The Sisterhood award is inspired by the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and was created by Diana to be given to your best bloggy girlfriend(s). You give them the award to thank them for their special friendship. This award was bestowed upon me by Linda of Spotted Cow Soaps.

I now bestow the "Sisterhood" award upon:

My fellow etsy angel Sharla AKA Beaded Tail...you can find her here.

My friend at Stormy Designs... you will find her here.

AND my AWESOME friend Amy AKA mamaslittlemonkeys...you will find her here.

Be sure to check out my "sisters" and Linda who was sew kind to bestow the award to little ol' me.

Simple Pleasures Thursday~~Friendship

Pam over at The Magic Sleigh posted about friendship this morning and has a video there about the unlikely friendship of an elephant and a dog. You must check it out.

It is the perfect gateway to my intended post today on the simple pleasure of friendship.

I have met many friends through my business and life travels and I am very blessed. Friends can make you laugh yourself silly enough to pee your pants, as well as get you through the rough spots.

One of my favorite sayings is “Friends are like quilts, you can never have enough.”

Friends that share the same interests as you can make for a wonderful day or evening. I have many friends that share my love of sewing and quilting.

Call a friend today and tell them how much they mean to you.

Simple Pleasure ~~Thursday~~

and ah-hah moments….

As of this morning, I am going to do my best this year to blog about Simple Pleasures on Thursdays. It is important to connect with the little things, very important.

My bff Pat is here from KY for a visit and we were having a spiritual connection (don’t you love those with a good friend) and she showed me her daily devotions book, taking just “a little time” each day for herself to make her own spiritual connection. Hmm… I thought, I have a very similar book given to me by my youngest sister for Christmas (back in the nineties, geeze) that sits on the bottom shelf of my nightstand. It has been there since I used it the first year that she gave it to me. I dusted it off and opened it this morning. If interested, the name of the book is A Simple Abundance, Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach.

Needless to say, I had forgotten how comforting this book was. I read from January 1 to today (usually a just a page a day). The message on January 7 was... How Happy Are You Right Now? Mmm…ponder that for a minute, or several. What are the little, simple pleasures, that make you content?? As I was pondering, I looked up in thought, out the window and at MY EMPTY BIRD FEEDERS! OMG, I cannot have my birds starving. AND, it is snowing….oh the shame...the guilt! And then, a mental picture of Oprah came to mind - I said ah hah! This morning, that very moment I sprang from my chair and battled the knee deep snow to make my way to my contentment.

It’s a little thing, but when the chickadees, the titmouse, the blue jays, the red breasted woodpeckers, (only to name a few) and Fred and Ethel, my cardinals come around, my heart could just melt the snow. Now, it doesn’t matter that I have to walk away from the window to get anything done for the day. I don’t really need to see them, as long as I know they are being taken care of and enjoying themselves I am content. Birds in winter….my today’s Thursday Pleasure, what’s yours?

A side note: I gotta tell ya, when you live in northern NY the winters are long. Yesterday we woke up to freezing rain, this morning it is snow. You have to have a good attitude and be easily humored to live here. Fortunately, I have both. The name sewhappy fits me.

Yummo....a full banquet.

Keeping with the theme of simple pleasures and gratitude, I would like to cheer lead for a wonderful etsy crafter ~~ maranda of Cowgirl Creations. View her shop here. She makes these fabulous gratitude/prayer boxes. Here are the four that I have purchased from her so far. The bottom two she custom designed for my grandchildren. Luv Luv!

Need a Laugh?

Now I know this has gone around the internet, but JUST IN CASE you just got your first colonoscopy and have not seen it yet.....you will resemble this message for sure..

Disclaimer: Before you read, please remember that a colonoscopy CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE. And routine colonoscopies DO SAVE LIVES. The author was exaggerating for the sake of making the story as funny as possible.

This is from newshound Dave Barry's colonoscopy journal:

I called my friend Andy Sable, a gastro-enteritis specialist, to make an appointment for a colonoscopy. A few days later, in his office, Andy showed me a color diagram of the colon, a lengthy organ that appears to go all over the place, at one point passing briefly through Minneapolis . Then Andy explained the colonoscopy procedure to me in a thorough, reassuring and patient manner. I nodded thoughtfully, but I didn't really hear anything he said, because my brain was shrieking, quote, 'HE'S GOING TO STICK A 17,000 FEET LONG TUBE UP YOUR BEHIND!'

I left Andy's office with some written instructions, and a prescription for a product called 'MoviPrep,' which comes in a box large enough to hold a microwave oven. I will discuss MoviPrep in detail later; for now suffice it to say that we must never allow it to fall into the hands of Our enemies.

I spent the next several days productively sitting around being nervous. Then, on the day before my colonoscopy, I began my preparation. In accordance with my instructions, I didn't eat any solid food that day; all I had was chicken broth, which is basically water, only with less flavor. Then, in the evening, I took the MoviPrep. You mix two packets of powder together in a one-liter plastic jug, then you fill it with lukewarm water. (For those unfamiliar with the metric system, a liter is about 32 gallons.) Then you have to drink the whole jug. This takes about an hour, because MoviPrep tastes - and here I am being kind - like a mixture of goat spit and urinal cleanser, with just a hint of lemon.

The instructions for MoviPrep, clearly written by somebody with a great sense of humour, state that after you drink it, 'a loose watery bowel movement may result.' This is kind of like saying that after you jump off your roof, you may experience contact with the ground.

MoviPrep is a nuclear laxative. I don't want to be too graphic, here, but: Have you ever seen a space-shuttle launch? This is pretty much the MoviPrep experience, with you as the shuttle.. There are times when you wish the commode had a seat belt. You spend several hours pretty much confined to the bathroom, spurting violently. You eliminate everything. And then, when you figure you must be totally empty, you have to drink another liter of MoviPrep, at which point, as far as I can tell, your bowels travel into the future and start eliminating food that you have not even eaten yet.

After an action-packed evening, I finally got to sleep. The next morning my wife drove me to the clinic. I was very nervous. Not only was I worried about the procedure, but I had been experiencing occasional return bouts of MoviPrep spurtage. I was thinking, 'What if I spurt on Andy?' How do you apologize to a friend for something like that? Flowers would not be enough.

At the clinic I had to sign many forms acknowledging that I had understood and totally agreed with whatever the heck the forms said. Then they led me to a room full of other colonoscopy people, where I went inside a little curtained space and took off my clothes and put on one of those hospital garments designed by sadist perverts, the kind that, when you put it on, makes you feel even more naked than when you are actually naked.

Then a nurse named Eddie put a little needle in a vein in my left hand. Ordinarily I would have fainted, but Eddie was very good, and I was already lying down. Eddie also told me that some people put vodka in their MoviPrep. At first I was ticked off that I hadn't thought of this is, but then I pondered what would happen if you got yourself too tipsy to make it to the bathroom, so you were staggering around in full Fire Hose Mode. You would have no choice but to burn your house. When everything was ready, Eddie wheeled me into the procedure room, where Andy was waiting with a nurse and an anesthetist. I did not see the 17,000-foot tube, but I knew Andy had it hidden around there somewhere. I was seriously nervous at this point. Andy had me roll over on my left side, and the anesthetist began hooking something up to the needle in my hand. There was music playing in the room, and I realized that the song was 'Dancing Queen' by ABBA I remarked to Andy that, of all the songs that could be playing during this particular procedure, 'Dancing Queen' has to be the least appropriate. 'You want me to turn it up?' said Andy, from somewhere behind me. 'Ha ha,' I said. And then it was time, the moment I had been dreading for more than a decade. If you are squeamish, prepare yourself, because I am going to tell you, in explicit detail, exactly what it was like.

I have no idea.

Really. I slept through it. One moment, ABBA was yelling 'Dancing Queen, Feel the beat of the tambourine,' and the next moment, I was back in the other room, waking up in a very mellow mood. Andy was looking down at me and asking me how I felt.. I felt excellent. I felt even more excellent when Andy told me that it was all over, and that my colon had passed with flying colors.

I have never been prouder of an internal organ.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Dave Barry is a Pulitzer Prize-winning humor columnist for the Miami Herald.

On the subject of Colonoscopies...they are no joking matter, but these comments during the exam were quite humorous... A physician claimed that the following are actual comments made by his patients
(predominately male) while he was performing their colonoscopies:

1. 'Take it easy, Doc. You're boldly going where no man has gone before!
2. 'Find Amelia Earhart yet?'
3. 'Can you hear me NOW?'
4. 'Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?'
5. 'You know, in Arkansas , we're now legally married.'
6. 'Any sign of the trapped miners, Chief?'
7. 'You put your left hand in, you take your left hand out...'
8. 'Hey! Now I know how a Muppet feels!'
9. 'If your hand doesn't fit, you must quit!
10. 'Hey Doc, let me know if you find my dignity.'
11. 'You used to be an executive at Enron, didn't you?'
12. 'God, now I know why I am not gay.'

And the best one of all.
13. 'Could you write a note for my wife saying that my head is not up there?'

MY BEST RESOLUTION for 2009

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me.”

Ermma Bombeck

Don’t you love that quote?

It’s a new year. Let’s throw out ALL the old resolutions. Let’s pick one that may be the hardest we have tried yet ~~ to be a BETTER PERSON. For me there can always be improvement. God is not done with me by any long shot.

This year, let us revisit some talents, (in no particular order), dust them off and use them to the best of our ability.

~ Love
~ Acceptance
~ Kindness
~ Gratitude
~ Humbleness
~ Forgiveness
~ Patience

I want to use them and improve them for as long as I can, don't you?