Friday, January 8, 2010

NEW BLOG, NEW NAME!


I'm closing my blog 
'Inspired Tokens'
I've been wanting to change my blog name for awhile now.

Thus my new blog....
ADVENTURE'S IN ALICE LAND 
has been born.
Please stop over for a visit;

I do so hope you like the new name!

Monday, January 4, 2010

LOOK WHO'S SIX!



  
SOMEBODY TURNED SIX!
Can you guess who?
  

My Sweet Little Granddaughter!
She's a New Year's Baby!
She was the first baby born in Iowa for
the New Year! January 2, 2004!
****
So, can you guess what I made her?

 

 What do you get when you take one new pair of jeans?


And ...a pile of ripped out threads?


You get a pair of jeans with ripped open legs!
Why you ask?
****
Because you get this ....



One super cute embellished outfit!


I used bit's and pieces of fabric to embellish
a purchased T-Shirt!


Then I embellished the ripped jeans to match.
And, sewed them back up!


Oh ...we can't forget the back!


I also made here this one!


Super Cute!
She was one happy little girl!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS AUDREYANNA!


Tuesday, December 29, 2009


As the New Year approaches,
I find myself thinking of the past year 
and wondering what happened? 
It wasn't the best of years 
...I think we were all struggling to keep it together. 
I'm not one to make resolutions. 
I never keep them;
then, feel like a failure because 
I didn't keep any of them. You know the drill 
.... lose weight, exercise more, 
watch less TV, and on, and on, and on!

This year I've decided to not make the usual 
New Year Resolutions. 
I've made what I am calling my 
'How I want to live my life in 2010!  
Probably the same as resolutions ...I just think it sounds better!!!!


SO HERE GOES!

Live Life More Simply! 
Keep life simple.
Life doesn't have to be complicated!

Buy Less, Spend Smarter!
Before buying anything; I will consider ...
How much does it mean to me?
Will it substantially benefit my life?
Does it support simple living?

Shed Stuff!
Every month, I will throw out at least
50 items! If they are reusable, donate them!
The house will thank me and my heart will be lightened!

Be Kind To The Earth!
Reuse, Recycle and Reclaim.
If there is anything that I can reuse,
put it in a 'Re-purpose Box'  in my studio.
Recycle anything that I can possible recycle.
Try to buy more earth friendly products and
take those darn reusable bags with me to the store!
I'm forever forgetting them at home!

Slow Down!
I will slow down ..rushing revs up the stress
levels and leaves little room for simple pleasures.
I will walk slowly, breathe slowly, drive slowly
and eat slowly. In Thoreau's words,
I will begin to 'live deliberately,' enjoying
every morsel of life.

Once A Month, PAY IT FORWARD!
Once a month I will do something kind for someone.

Be Kind to Myself! 
This one is a hard one!
I'm so hard on myself! Always questioning
myself, doubting myself! Get rid of all those
'little voices' in my head telling me
I'm not good enough, talented enough!
Ease up a little, after all there is only one of
me and I don't want to leave this world
thinking I was never good enough!

Be More Creative!
Allow myself to be more creative!
As I travel through blog land, visiting new
and wonderful blogs. I find myself questioning
my confidence, my talent, my accomplishment's.
Wishing that I could be as talented as those I
visit, all while secretly wishing that I too
could obtain my full potential and
accomplish my dreams.
I want to be an artist.
I want to be creative.
I want to be one of those talented blogger's
I visit each and everyday!
Deep down in my heart I'm a little jealous of
these wonderful people ...wondering what the
creative secret is?
I suppose there are others out there;
questioning and wondering! The fear of
failure, the lack of belief! Why is it
we never think we are good enough,
never talented enough, always comparing
ourselves to others?
Sometimes I think I get in my own way!
I suppose I need to just get out there and DO IT!
I want to reclaim my inner self; I want to put aside
the negative images that swirl within my head!
Each of us holds a talent, we just have to find out
how to obtain it and not compare ourselves to others!


HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

WHAT'S ON YOUR '2010'
LIST OF THINGS TO DO?

Thursday, December 24, 2009

A BIT OF HOLIDAY CHEER ...



HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
A BIT OF HOLIDAY CHEER....
FROM MY HOUSE TO YOURS!

'Our Tree'









'A Few Adored Ornaments'



 





 


'Some Holiday Vignettes'



 
 
 

 

 
   

 

WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY HOLIDAY!


 I WISH YOU MUCH JOY AND HAPPINESS;
AND PEACE AROUND THE WORLD!

Friday, December 18, 2009

CRAFTING A.D.D.






While Sugar Plum's dance ....

I'm obsessed!


The holiday decorations are in place!
The gifts have been wrapped!
The cards have been mailed!
But, can I stop? NO!


I'm crocheting!
What started out as a project quite awhile ago;
is once again being worked on.


Remember the Cath Kidston Granny Blanket?
Well ...what can I say? I LOVE this blanket.
I'm working my main color in RED!
Do you think I will get it done before next Christmas? 


I'm knitting!
It's a last minute Christmas gift!


And.....knitting!
Legwarmers for Daughter Dear!
One down, one to go!

 
... still knitting!
A simple cashmere cowl!
It was going to be a Christmas gift;
now I've decided it will be mine!


Crocheting yet again!
I'm obsessed with this project!
One big granny square done with
Color way S252!

And, dare I show you my sewing?
Oh yes, Oh yes I will!


Quilt Number 1!
Blocks completed, ready for sashing!
Not sure when I'll get to this one!


Quilt Number Two!
Blocks are sewn and also awaiting sashing!

I think I have CRAFTING A.D.D.!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

SOME HOLIDAY REDO!



MAKING HOLIDAY HEAD WAY!


The tree is decorated!


The snowmen have taken their place!


The Fairies are in their place!


The cards have been made and put in the post!


And ...there's been a bit of hot cocoa and crafting!

There's even been a room redo ....
 

This room is our upstairs TV area. As you can see; this
'area' is one long room. It houses a TV area,
a dining area and the kitchen!


See this old couch! I hated this couch!
It's not that old, but it was never really what I
wanted; and....the back cushions were terrible!
See! Cute Little Sophie is saying 'what's up with this couch?'


There's even a matching old chair and ottoman!
And ...yes! There's knitting!
There is always a project or two hanging around!

NOW, I have this!


A brand spank'n new chair and couch!



Here's the new couch! Sooooo, much
more comfy! Dear H and I agreed on this set.
It's Micro-Fiber with the look
of old worn leather!
Bonus ...both ends open into recliners!


Dear H is very happy with his new recliner chair!
I wasn't looking for recliners, but sometimes
a girl just has to give in!


Now, I am VERY HAPPY with the new room redo!
Even got a new carpet out of the deal!
 

 Now I'm off for a bit of crafting and a bit of
last minute holiday knitting!
 I hope you are making headway on your
holiday to do list!


Tuesday, December 1, 2009


OMG ...is it really the FIRST OF DECEMBER?


Really ...are you sure?  I keep checking the calendar!
It keeps saying it's the FIRST, but I still don't believe it!
(Even Santa looks like he's behind in his TO DO LIST!)



 But, see! There it is! Right there ...in black and white!
DECEMBER 1st!


I know I just had turkey ...because I have turkey noodle soup
by the container full ...so I know we just had Thanksgiving!
But, the FIRST OF DECEMBER! Well now, that's just
not right. It's too soon! There is still so much to be done
before the BIG GUY arrives on his sleigh!

There is knitting to finish, sewing to finish,
ornament making to finish, shopping to finish,
and baking to finish!
The list could go on and on!

ONE ITEM THAT IS FINISHED!
Dear Daughter's quilt is finally done. 


Isn't it beautiful?
It looks like 'Neapolitan Ice Cream'.
Lot's of pinks, browns and black

I sent it off to
The BackPorch Quilter's for quilting and
we received it back this past Saturday!
BackPorch Quilter's, they
do such a beautiful job with
putting quilts together and quilting it.


We chose a really nice swirling pattern
for them to use on the quilt. It
turned out just gorgeous!
One item I can check off that ever
growing list!

Dear Daughter and I have also been busy
doing a few holiday crafts.
Here is one we just finished!


We made this cute Advent garland!
(The 'Merry Christmas' banner I already had!)
We made this ....


I made the little felt pockets. Not my
idea ...the sky would fall if I could
ever design something so cute.
You can find the idea and pattern at
Allsorts. She has the cutest blog and
the cutest ideas!


Dear Daughter painted the wooden
snowmen on the garland. They turned
out so cute. It just warms my heart to
see her crafting! Makes a mother proud!


We added touches of black gingham and
red stripe ribbon to finish off the
holiday garland!
(FYI ..the snowman garland was purchased at Micheal's for those of
you who might wish to do this project!)

I'm off to get busy and check off some
of those unfinished items from my list!
I hope that you are making better headway
on your TO DO LISTS than I am!