Yes a store bought cake- but man was it good. After a corn casserole blowing up in my oven and fighting off this blasted sinus infection (still having chilled sweats) we pulled off the party with special guests - Steve and Rosemary. I wasn't about to push it trying to bake my own cake. She loved it.
She could not get the cards opened fast enough and I love this picture. She got a gift card to Petsmart to buy her and her sister guinea pigs. Yes we are about to have rodents in teh home. Not thrilled but when the kid has studied for 6 months and can tell you anything you ever wanted to know about guinea pigs we bit the bullet. They will come after we get back from CA. We leave this Sunday so when you don't see a post for a while that is why.
Couldn't wait to take it out of the box and try to loose the parts. They were impressed that it came from Italy. Who knew Italy makes the best guinea pig cages.
I received both of my swaps today. The top picture is of my mini quilt swap from Salt Marsh Designs aka Aimee. I love the colors and of course the fact that it is a owl. It is going in the livingroom.
I met with my ceramic lady and we talked for great length over the cost of having your own kiln and possibly selling my stuff. She even went as far as to offer to train me and then have me buy her out of her business, but I don't know if I'm ready for that one. So after much talk I have things to chew around in my brain. I'd love to hear what you all out there think. What would you pay for a mug like these above? Feedback PLEASE!!!!!!
So I figured I needed to put something crafty on the blog. I have been working on something, but I can't show you because that would ruin the surprize for the one getting it. I thought about putting sneak peaks, but no, I'll let her wait. One of my NY sis's got this really cool table runner in a swap and I loved it. It was using one of my favorite fabrics (the tree fabric above) so I drew out this funky tree and stitched it last night. This is going to be the center of whatever I create.
This is Queen1 standing in front of her artwork that has been displayed at our local mall. Hers is the one with the purple backing. I don't know why she is making this funny face other than we couldn't get out of this mall fast enough. We brought her down to perform with her chorus from school. They did about 30 minutes of singing. This was the second time for me to hear it, first for Soulmate and Queen2 was at a friends having a playdate. My Mom radar was going off bigtime. Too many people in the mall. But we got in and out ok and home safely.
These are pictures of the sky and incoming weather. We have only had one tornado warning since we've lived here, but since then, we really keep a eye out when the weather turns. Soulmate and I have been through a earthquake, hurricane, fire and mudslides where we have lived in the past.(3 of those all in southern CA) I could do without the tornado. 
This is the new club that has joined Billy Casper Golf. It is near us so we went for a peak.
My handsome family
Nature at her best. As we left....this beautiful sunset.
and still no name with plenty of people throwing their suggestions, including Queen 1's Lou Lou, Ulinda, Eleanor and Rosie. There was a Miley and a Lily in their too. I'm hoping for a flower name because Mom's name is Daisy. 
Went to a new place today that was painted pink with black poke-a-dots. How could it be bad, right? It was very cute with treasures in every corner. Again one of those places that you had to really look. More vintage buttons and some trim. The french hen had to come home with me too. She is perfect. The store was called "On A Whim" thus the title.
Check this one off the list. I finished this this weekend. I worked on my two color mini for the swap I'm doing and just finished that. I think next is the cheerleading bag.
This is what I made for my mom in law. For my mom I bought a Moda fabric charm pack.
It's teacher appreciation week and I thought I would make bookmarks for the teachers. I have three done so far with 4 more to go. Lots of teachers!!!! It is helping me with my free motion quilting, so the practice is good. The top picture is of my fabric that just came to the door. So very exciting and beautiful. I can't tell you what I'm going to make with it yet, but I'm very excited to have it. 16 fat quarters of gorgeous Marcus Alfresco fabric. 
The top picture is of some material I put together for a little girls quilt that I'm working on now. The bottom is a picture of completed petal pushers from their jeans that were too short. I cleaned out closets and dropped off the bags to Goodwill and kept these three. Now I don't have to buy shorts this summer. I spent one day and painted up a storm. Bev was very happy to see me walk into the ceramic place with all my goodies. Shadow- the black cocker- gave me the biggest hug and kiss. His arms felt like teddy bear arms- so sweet. I picked up a few more things and will pick up the finished stuff on Sunday. It is amazing how busy these last two months of school get. The girls are studying for SOL'S (that is standard of learning tests not shit out of luck) Queen 1 went on a field trip yesterday to her new middle school and is very excited to go. Now that the school boundary changes have been announced I think she feels like she can make bonds with other friends. I hear her talking about other girls more. Queen 2 had tennis yesterday and she makes me smile, watching her little body hussle for the ball. Her coach was a bit tougher on her than the others, but she didn't seem to mind. "Bring it on" is her mentality.
