Can YOU play the kazoo?

Please circle October 10 on your calendar. That's the week I'll be the featured designer on Norden Crafts blog! I was asked to answer 5 designer questions and 5 "about me" questions. So now you will all get to know me a little bit better and have answers to questions that I'm sure you've all been pondering like "What is her shoe size?", "Can she play the kazoo?" and my personal favorite "Is that her REAL hair color?" Stay tuned to find out!

Hope to see you at the Creek again real soon!
Diane

Smile like you mean it!

Hello Friends!
I don't know where you are in the country, but it was a BEAUTIFUL day in my neck of the woods. The trees are just beginning to show off their new autumn wardrobe and the air has become refreshingly cool.

It's that time of year when many students are staring down the lens of a camera for school pictures that so often look like mug shots minus the numbers! We all have school pictures that we are quite embarrassed of and wish to bury in a very deep hole. (I won't even bring up my BIG hair and BIG glasses.) That's a topic for another day!

I was always afraid of what Colvin's pics would look like, not because he isn't photogenic (which he is), but because the photographer doesn't take much time with the kids to get the BEST possible pose and smile. Last year, I decided to take Colvin's school pics myself and I was very happy with the outcome. So, this year, I again played photographer much to my son's dismay.

This afternoon, we went to a local state park in our neighborhood and had our very own photo shoot. Colvin insisted that I took 100 photos, which isn't true. If he had been paying attention, he would have known I only took 99! He humored me by letting me pose him and politely waited to roll his eyes AFTER the pictures were taken. Such a charming child!

His glasses have transition lenses, so when I got him posed, I had to put his glasses on his face and quickly take the picture. After each picture, I took his glasses from him and stored them in the sweatshirt pouch until it was time for the next one. Geesh, no wonder he was rolling his eyes.

Here is the fruit of my labor:

This is my personal favorite!

He truly was a good sport and we accomplished what we set out to do...capture another year of memories. Just wait til he gets the bill!

Thanks for stopping by the Creek. Leave me a note letting me know you were here!

Diane

Oozing out my pores...

Creativity, that is! I love the high I get when I finish designing a sampler. ***deep breath*** Ahhhhhh. I've designed 2 new samplers in less than a week and now I want to get stitching! But one thing gets in my way..... my job. Now don't get me wrong. I like my job, but it doesn't produce the same euphoria as designing and stitching. It does however help pay for the roof and walls that surround my stitching chair. I feel blessed to have a job especially when so many do not. But between you and me ***whispering*** I'd rather be home stitching!
Thanks for taking time to stop by the creek. I do hope you'll keep coming back!

Diane

Grimes Ghost is in this Post!

"OLD GRIMES"
Old Grimes is dead, that good old man,
We ne'er shall see him more;
He used to wear a long brown coat
All buttoned down before.

"Grimes Ghost" • Design size: 103 x 107 • Fabric used: Zweigart 32ct. "Creekstone" lugana

 When I heard this old nursery rhyme, I knew I HAD to design a sampler for it. Of course, I decided to change some of the words to make it my own. I don't think Old Grimes will mind, after all, he's dead! I don't usually embellish my samplers, but I just had to sew real buttons on his coat. The graph shows stitched buttons if you prefer to go that route. In case you're wondering, the 1/4" buttons I used were found at Joanne Fabrics. With all of the buttons in my button jar, I didn't have the right size or amount that was needed. Perhaps you will be luckier than I was! If not, go to Joanne's! I'm stitching a Christmas design right now, so be on the lookout for a sneak peek soon. Thanks for stopping by the creek and please come again!

Diane