Tuesday, January 11, 2011

OK, I am back.......

It is a new year with new beginnings and all that. I said I would be a blogger again in the new year so here I am! This is the longest break I have ever taken from blogging since I started in 2007 and it actually has weighed heavy on my mind. Not just the blogging part, but visiting my friends blogs. It feels good to be back. Thanks for waiting for me!
I mostly have some things to show that people have made for me. My camera was haywire and I didn't get pictures until recently.
First of all, going back to my Christmas apron swap with Penny...She made me the cutest apron and sent it along with Christmas fabric, candy canes and some cute Christmas themed buttons...I promised her a picture and I finally got one on Christmas Eve with my little nephew Jace. I get to show off him and the apron!











I love the colors and this pattern is one of my very favorites....I think it fits me just perfect too!







Isn't Jace a handsome little devil? He is now two and a half and he talks non stop....I get such a kick out of listening to him. I also tease him which you are allowed to do when you are an auntie!

Penny also sent me a picture of herself in the apron I made her....I just think it is so much fun to see her wearing it. She told me it has been well used and loved and in this, she is telling her son how to take the picture. Looking good girlfriend.











Quite a while back I was in Sherry's paper bag swap....The rules were to make some fun and creative items using paper sacks...My partner was Valrie...She was going thru some very hard times and battling some personal things and asked me to be patient with her...Right before Christmas I got a box in the mail and I was surprised to see all this paper bag treasure from Miss Valrie herself....Bobbins has to be Mr. Snoopy and check it all out as I am trying to get a picture.







I love all the bright Spring colors...I am already entirely sick of winter and the cold. My favorite is this little album to put pictures in....Of course it has my initial and it is in pink....












Thanks Valrie for the bit of spring in a box....It was a great swap!

I rejoined the Year of Enchantment Swap hostessed by Val...I forgot to sign up for January though...darn it. The December theme was Elves and my partner was Kerry. I am so impressed by what she sent me...Her ornaments are handmade, but they don't look it....Her detail is pretty amazing. The pincushion is the cutest thing ever with the little cardinal on it. Again Mr Snoopy felt the need to walk into the picture, so ignore the cat. He wasn't part of the enchantment.











The best part about being in Val's ornament swap has been the friends I have made. Val is wonderful and fun and we always tell each other that if we lived closer we would get in all kinds of trouble! Then in November I met Missy who lives right in Clearfield! I have a blogging friend for real! We are both little girls with a wicked sense of humor and we love to make things. She came over last Tuesday and we made fabric postcards. They are a lot like a mini quilt....I had kind of lost any artistic drive I had and she got me right on it anyway. Between the two of us, we both make a lot of different things so it is going to be fun to share ideas and projects....Plus she is a huge gardener and she has.....(hyperventilation...) chickens!
So here are Missy's first fabric postcards....










And here are the two I made....One is a reflection of my current view on marriage....sorry, it just snuck out I guess......












I am looking forward to 2011 and have decided that once again I am going to overcome. I am going to laugh and love and live a good life and not let myself be defined by lifes tragedies....so put that in your pipe and smoke it.....Happy New Year.

36 comments:

PaTcHwOrK jEnN said...

So glad you are back to blogging. I have missed you! Love your postcards. Looks like you are finding a what to heal through them.
HUGS!

Barb said...

Welcome back!!!! Loev love all your goodies you have shown...what a fun mail time for you.

Melinda...it seems your life was shattering while I was traveling back and forth from Samoa and then leaving the island for good. I am so sorry .... I just read your blog and sooo sorry. I know this Christas season must have been so hard on you. I am sorry I was not there....

Jane said...

Good to see you back and creating.
As soon as my cats see the camera, they are right in front of it, worse than kids, lol

Jenny said...

Welcome back. Be kind to yourself. You are a beautiful person inside and out. Good things will come to you!

Hugs, hope, peace and resolution for 2011.

Laurie said...

Wooo Hoooo Melinda! I love your attitude, and am SO GLAD you're back with us! Missed you! Still up for chickens in the spring!?

sjmcdowell said...

Sweet Melinda,

So glad to have you back Blogging again. I missed you too!!

You and Jace look so cute and You Girl look FABULOUS!!!!! :)

I also loved your fabric post cards you made. I have to learn how to make one....they intrigue me!

Love and Hugs and Happiness,

Susan
xxoo

Quiltmoose - Dagmar said...

Glad to have you back in blogland, Melinda! Those fabric postcards are fabulous!

Best wishes for a wonderful, happy and healthy new year! You deserve it :-)

Hugs, Dagmar

Joan - South Island, New Zealand. said...

Meinda, I love your attitude. Fantastic! Welcome back and best wishes to you for a happy, healthy new year. Yes!

Pat said...

I'm glad you are back and have a "screw the liars and lies" attitude!!!!! The photos of you with Jace are really precious...thanks for sharing them.

Jasmine said...

Good to see you back. Happy New Year xJ

roc said...

happy new year to you missy! love that you posted a wonderful blog article. sounds like you are finding your way and i couldn't be happier that you are feeling better about things. god bless you melinda!

Jeanne Turner McBrayer said...

Lots of beautiful creations here! Welcome back!

Mrs. Sew and Sew - Karen said...

Great to see you back! I missed your posts. The pic of you and Jace is just adorable. I love the postcards. You're so creative! :)

Laurie said...

She's back! I'm so proud of you! We will get through this. I love how you expressed your feelings in that fabric postcard! GOOD FOR YOU!

Julie Harward said...

Hi there, glad you are back and on top of things! Looks like you have been doing lots of swapping, love everything, especially the aprons. Good luck to you, I hope this will be your best year ever! :D

Jo said...

So totally glad that you are back ... i just love your attitude ... you just live and live well!!! and those postcards, gorgeous work!

Maria said...

So nice you are back Melinda.
Your nephew is gorgeous as is your Apron.

Sarah said...

How cool you have found a like minded bloggy/arty friend who is so local to you! Online pals are great (and I firmly count you as one of mine), but real life ones that you can sit around the kitchen table and make stuff with are even better :)

From her postcards it looks like you both have a very similar style and I ebt you'll become best mates :)

I must admit I had a wry smile at your marriage postcard - my first (and only!) marriage ended in a similar shambles to yours, although thankfully so long ago now that it doesn't hurt any more, so I couldn't agree more :)

Joanne Lendaro said...

SOOOOOOOOOOO good to see you again!! Welcome back sweetie, you were really missed. We love ya!!

Helen in the UK said...

You have made and received some GREAT stuff! How fun to be able to get together with another crafter and create. Glad to see you back in blogland :)

Needled Mom said...

So glad to see a post from you again. It's nice to have you back and sharing your work.

Your postcards are amazing. You guys had a fun time creating some great pieces.

Hands Sew Full said...

Glad to see that you are back posting and sporting a whole new attitude! I have to say the best turn about on my ex was to THRIVE! Bloom and carry on girl, you only get one time around so don't let the liars ruin your garden. I love your picture in your apron especially enhanced by such a cute nephew!

Yarni Gras! said...

YAY!!!!!!!! You really ARE BACK! I am so glad to see you! I hope you join my next Hot Mama Apron swap...you and Missy will love the theme (cluck, cluck)

Anyway, I was delighted to have you in my Year of Enchantment and am so happy you joined. If you REALLY want to play in the current swap, I'll be your partner :-)

Love ya!!! Val

Patty said...

Glad to hear from you again. Glad you're back. 2011 will be a good year for you, creative and fulfilling I'm sure of it. Great postcards.

Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. said...

Great stuff!
<><

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I would have been here sooner, but I lost power, then never got back to you. I sent you a little something for Christmas, but I transposed numbers and letters on your address and got it back. I'll resend as soon as I can change the address and get to the PO. Sorry about that, but my mind must have been elsewhere, as was pretty obvious for about six weeks.

Robin (RsIslandCrafts) said...

Welcome back to the blogging world! Everything looks great.

Kerry said...

Yay.... so glad you're back:-)
Excited you're back for YOE2.

Here's to a FANTASTIC 2011!!!

Michelle said...

I love your post! I look forward to your creations in 2011.

Happy New Year!

Sandy Ang said...

Your post cards are such amazing works of art! Be strong and live life to the fullest.

Marva Plummer-Bruno said...

Hey Lady!!!! I was getting worried about you! You look fabulous in your apron and your nephew is soooo cute!!!! Love all the goodies you got and the fabric postcards you and Missy did!!! She has a great teacher! And I'm so glad she has chickens!!! I'm sure she'd let you go over early in the morning and feed them... :D Take care and stay warm! Hugs, Marva

gin said...

you are one terrific girl! glad you are back to the Melinda we love to vist.

Quiltingranny said...

So glad you are back and look at all your wonderful treasures!

Holly Loves Art said...

Happy 2011! It's great to see you blogging again. I hope you're enjoying it to the fullest!
Hugs,
Holly

Little Messy Missy said...

I so LOVE the little elf with the braids! So cute!

Sherry said...

Yay! I'm so glad you finally got your package from Valrie! You look fantastic in your new apron! I've been kinda of lost and hopefully I'm back too????

Missed you!
Sherry