he waits...for 3:24 pm

believe & life....

Believe and life will give you flowers....

Things may not grow as swiftly as we may want but they will grow will time and patience. Just as if you believe they will come true.....

Never stop believing in your passion and beauty will grow from.

These crazy flowers were made from a few scraps of fabric and cotton pads. Then just stitched them. Nothing fancy. I think that is what I have come to love about these. A little vintage ric rac and and we're all set.

Thanks for stopping by and checking them out...Keep believing....

l.

even then....

Got to have "puter" time.....

This day is one of the most beautiful days we have seen...It is 77 and sunny with a wonderful gentle breeze....in spending time outdoors, it really is the most wonderful thing to do these days..

Today is one of those days when you were a kid that you rolled down the hill and played in the trees..this is the kind of day you'd remember....I must say that even the trees are singing....

It is a day that people write songs about, picnics in the park happen, the swimming holes are full, and the fish are biting...

Take a minute and just breathe the days air and be thankful for whatever the weather you have. Remember if it wasn't for the weather we'd have nothing to talk about. Let it make you smile today you are a part of this earth and it is part of you...Stop what you are doing, which is hopefully reading all my random thoughts...Step outside your door and be in the world quietly and take it all in because at that moment...it is yours and no one else's.....breathe the earth....be thankful.....

Bottle your moment and save it for the winter days that get you blue....

l.

what a weekend....

Always leave it to Belle....I am not kidding, when I say that we a have a ton of photos of this very look. I don't know what it is...just that funny bone always coming out oh so very quietly.

'Tis the season for family reunions....we attended one this weekend which was filled with people that really seemed to enjoy themselves. These people were also ones we didn't know. Long story...Reunions are funny whether they are for work, family, or class. I have to wonder who thought of them? Couldn't have been Hallmark or there would be a big section for them at the Gold Crown store, heck there would even be ornaments, say nothing about fancy wrap and party ware to mark the moment. I am a big believer that most of our major Holidays were created by Mr. Hallmark. I have this one, on true authority I worked for a wonderful Hallmark for the years of college. Loved!!Loved!! that job....

Back to reunions....what were they thinking...you get together on typically the stickiest day of the year, then you have to dress nice, shave your legs, make food to pass, visit with people you don't know or see.
1. They need to be held on cool days only.
2. You should be allowed to wear your yard jammies.
3. Your legs shouldn't matter, say nothing about the hair.
4. Everything should be catered. Nothing has to be worse then the one dish no one touches.
I have to wonder if Betty realizes the no one eats her "thing" every reunion. We have too
many scary jellos with veg's in it and mystery dishes.
5. They should not be held more than once every ten years. Cause if some of them wanted to
see us, I'm pretty sure they'd drop by and same goes on my end.
6. No alcohol should ever be allowed.
7. Or darts. Ever.
8. Not every delicious looking sinful pan of bars has to include peanut butter.
9. No name tag is to be required. Note: no color coding necessary. "Oh your so and so's"
10. No cheek pinching or bottom pinching allowed.

So finally I have to add take a chair you will hold you up thru the entire reunion. Even with all the potato salad.
As for a class reunion they are not always a good thing......

L.

yard jammies.....

Yard Jammies........................
May you never grow too old to be in the front yard in your jammies for photos with mom.....

There are just some days we need to stay in our jammies and be able to roll around in the front yard.....today would be that day....

The sun is shining and the weather is fantastic...it is a true summer day....my sweets is at a friends house swimming...finally they can be in their swim wear and not freeze to death before they even touch the water..

I am thinking that there just might be a market for yard jammies.... In today's world all the girls seem to wear their jammies everywhere. Well I am driven crazy by this, my mom would have had me for this. Especially if I hadn't ironed them!!!

So here's the deal I want to create a market just for the 30-50 year old range that says I can wear my jammies outside too. They would be fantastic, adorable and within the highest quality and fashion. They would not look as if you sleep the last ten hours in them and just rolled out to run into the yard in our jammies. They would not be Tye dye or in bad coordination. They would be cut with a complimentary style and the beginning of your bottom will not show if you choose to bend over and garden a little..

We could have yard jammies, grocery store jammies, mall jammies, got to get the gas jammies, got to pick up the kids jammies, and most importantly drive thru jammies.

There would be only a few requirements of these very high end jammies...hehehe...
1. They must match
2. You couldn't have slept in them...they must be fresh.
3. They must fit perfectly for you. Not to big not to small.
4. They will require a bra
5. They can not be Tye dye
6. You have to brush your hair to wear them.
7. They have to make you happy...

I want to be a jammie girl....

note:(a few of you may raise your eyebrows, and think this is already done....well, like anything "new" and improved you really will have to try these out they will be made with magic thread...thread that will make every butt look " jammies hott"...this will not be the typical jammie butt....just saying, ok that's the disclaimer)
L-

The layout is created on black cardstock all the edges tattered and then painted with "sky" blue paint. Then I went stitch crazy. Machine has gotten so much work lately I am going to have to start paying it overtime.

it's raining- it's raining!!!

Good Morning! with a little layout hello!!!!

It's raining, it's pouring....It started late last night and it has trickled into the morning....yay!!

We have so badly needed it and it couldn't come to us soon enough....


The most amazing things that the world does without us, it shines the sun, it is rain, it is warm and cold. I love how the weather has a mind of its own. It is the one true surprise each and every day. The weather is really its own art form and we get to be part of it..

Did I mention? It's raining it's pouring the plumber is coming.......he has come to my house and spent on hour and discovered that nothing can be done for us today maybe tomorrow....ugh!!!
I just keep thinking blue soap...blue soap....be nice and I'll get more done-- better, right??
I realize it not his fault and he is a nice guy, but man I'd love no worries....
Such is life......

If you are lucky enough to have little rain come your way today...be sure to stop and give it a smell. It is wonderful..............

L-

it's a monday, monday......

Just had to share a fun fab layout....I stitched each of the paper buttons down with embroidery thread...

You know it is Monday, Monday, Monday......when a little guy that I watch comes in the door and says...

Let me start with he is a smart as a whip and they were in the middle of this conversation when they walked in the door...

"Good Morning, what color is your soap?" I ask, my what?..." Your mouth soap, what color is it today?" It's blue honey why? " Cause I not like the blue kind, ok Daddy no bad words today"

This little man says alot of "daddy words" and daddy owes me a lot of quarters.

So as my day moves on I realize that I'd might need a little blue soap for myself.

Our water heater no longer is working, it is one year old, and no one wants to be responsible....ugh!

I have decided that there is no such thing as a warranty, that word is used like fancy or pretty. In other words it really doesn't mean anything. Either way you look at this it is a great big pain in the rear. I am currently looking for the correct rear to give it too. I know blue soap.

I understand that companies are big these days and you can't visit with George the guy who installed it or you bought it from. I just wish when I make that 1-800 phone call, that it would be answered within 42 minutes and not disconnect me!! Then I'd really love it if they knew what a water heater was....ugh!!! 37 minutes later we are still trying to contact someone that speaks the same language as me, I am pretty sure I did not press that button. Disconnected again...Must be a policy, well I'll tell you this, the orange Home improvement store doesn't back the item sold.

They however, are very nice about it I'll give them that. Thanks for nothing.. Warranty they might have just said it was covered by beans or bananas.

Word of advice when making a purchase comes with a warranty? If I should need that warranty who do I call and will they speak English and know what a water H-E-A-T-E-R is.... what is a warranty really it is a whole lot of nothing.. They are just counting on you that you'll never need it....

I know blue soap......................

I think I'll be the adult and opt for the bathroom soap it is from B&W and I figure floral has to taste better, I'm sure I'm going to need plenty of it before days end....

L-

friends........

Back to the old days of embroidering, when I was little my Grama stitched everything from towels to socks...I am pretty sure she even stitched the undies...I know she pressed them. She to this day loves to iron, what I call a lost art.

I can remember all of my Mom's sisters getting together on Sundays after church and making a big lunch and sewing whatever their current projects were. I am pretty I have learned how to stitch in any form. Did I ever think it would continue and carry thru my life, well no.

I have to say one of my favorite things to do is to sew on my projects. Thanks to all the ladies in the family to still keep the passion for the creative alive.

I only wish we would still get together for the Sunday dinner. That was so homemade, so filling, and so sinful we need to go back to church every week and give thanks. Or maybe ask for forgiveness for being so deliciously full... and all the real butter and creme we added to everything.

l.

the water calls......

the water calls and waits each season for her......................

Each day she wakes and runs to the waters edge. I have to remind her to place her swim gear on and not always just her jammies. I am amazed at how each time she finds a new treasure in the same sand over and over again.

It is as if the water beckons her to return therefore offering her a prize with each moment.

In all truth the prize is the peace and honesty only the water and the shore can offer.

I can only hope that moments like these will be her time honored treasures in her tomorrows.

I believe that one day she will return to this water with the same love she has now. She'll share it with her family and begin a cherished tradition.

l.

missing the lake......

we've been home for a couple of days and I'm sadly no longer "rockin in the boat"

we had a swirling day one of our last days on the boat. needless to say that leaves me rockin'

I am missing the water so bad I can hardly stand it. It is amazing how life dumps you back into itself when you return. There should be a vacation detoxification system in place for everyone who isn't gone long enough... For many people they say there's no place like home and are excited to be back....I on the other hand want to live there...

I am sad looking at the photos that everything there is still going on without me...I don't want to miss a thing..

The best thing about the lake is waking up to the soft sounds of the water racing in to touch the shore and hurrying away to do it again...As the waves are lapping the shore the Loons are having their morning conversation and are about to begin their day.......

The smell of the water in gulfs you as you lay in the cabin and the cool dry air quietly greets you with the freshness like no other....

Waking before the sun is easy there and enjoying it's simple beauty is without words. If you close your eyes you can easily embrace it's presence.

The lake allows you to just breathe...............

-L.

me & earth........

I went a little crazy with the machine and I did a billion circles. I inked them slightly with dark blue to enhance the white stitching. I also like the way it offers motion to the layout.

The journaling: Me & earth have been together ten years & I have worked hard to make it a better place...I will continue....love belle...

She really has made this life a better place and she will change the world.....

A great photo comes when you least expect and when your not trying to hard.....

greetings from the lake..........

greetings from the lake.........the bass have been good to us.........aren't they pretty....

We haven't gotten nearly enough boat time!!
(not true)

Having a wonderful relaxing time...

greetings from the lake............

a little tea.........

Who's loving this weather? Me........and we need a little sprinkler tea........delicious...........

the cats meow....

I created three designs for a birthday gift that will be black framed.... Oh happy day Louie, Louie, Louie......

I must say Cosmo Cricket's early bird is the cats meow...............a special little thank you to Studio Calico for providing me with some of the most swell paper in town. If it wasn't SC, I'd be paperless in the boonies.................

Yip, that's me paperless in MN....it's hard to get treasures this far North I tell you.....:)

These designs are 8x10 and began as plain white papers. Then I loved them with Green Maya Mist. I love the effect these created, it gave you the feeling of being outside and in the grassy yard. Then a little hand stitching to offer texture and another element to the pages.

Thanks for checking it out....

-Lori

it's that time of year............

Fishin' time...........looking forward to catching a few a little bigger...maybe a smile next time we hold our prize catch!!! It still amazes us this fish was catch on her little lucky pole.

A few years ago we came upon this little fishing pole floating in the middle of our giant lake and from there Belle took to fishing with it...It catches everything and always has a bite no matter what the conditions...Sometimes it is frustrating...she is the only one with bites...

I must say this can make, for a long day in the boat a very happy one.

So, this is the way I see this amazing pole. We are a family in a small boat on a big lake. No fishing to be had. One day the sky opened and God dropped us a line of hope. This little pole floated to our rescue. This pole has taught us all patience and understanding of "how" to fish. This may sound funny coming from two adults who grew up doing nothing but fishing as children and my hubby who is an avid Bass fisherman...Life is different when you fish and float in our child's eyes. It is definitely our lucky pole..........in a lot of ways this pole taught us how to fish......

my heart is aching.........

My heart is thirsty and my mind wanders to the delicious flavors of a Starbucks....

My Starbucks.....Tasty and yummies..........I'll love my Carmel Fraps old school, Ever--After...

2 More sleeps and one or two, maybe three will be waiting for me to indulge. This is will be how I start my 4th of July weekend....right after I buckle up!!! I want to be safe when I'm slurping all the way, only stopping to pee......................

Hehehehe.....

tiniest of treasures..........

Sometimes the tiniest of treasures bring the largest amount of little joy....
I freehanded these tiny flowers from scraps left over from a project. I had the tiniest little empty bottle just waiting for a treasure.

shine........

Just be 3 and shine.................

I love this layout, it is becoming one of my favorites.

This is a blue cardstock.

I used one of the new HS masks and Maya mists in layers. The Chipboard is also thanks to a great designer HS! Red inked. I played with the photo on my Adobe and printed in on colored, textured cardstock. When finishing up the layout I oversprayed it with Pearl Maya mist to give a wonderful shine.

The titlework is created with Thickers fabric letters stamped and inked.

Happy 4th of July!!!!
Be Safe------L