Tis The Season...To Catch a Cold

Yup, it's that time of year. The time of year when your cute little bundles of germs bring home all kinds of nasty little things from their preschool class and infect the whole family. Good times! Fletcher got sick and then I got sick and now his daddy is sick. It has been fun in the Allen household. I'm not going to hold it against those little germ spreaders, I mean preschoolers, though. They can't help it and they are cute, so they automatically get a pass. That's why we made these little treat bags for the Halloween Party at preschool tomorrow. They were really easy to make. Just some green bags, black paper, goofy eyes and a marker. Easy Peasy.

Because of everyone being under the weather, very little sewing and crafting has gone on around here. I have really just wanted to sit around and do nothing. My big plans to check as much off my to do list as I could last week fell very, very short. Total things checked off: maybe 2. I'm not going to stress about it. There is always this week and next week, too.

Things are not going good with the no sweet tea. What can I say, I'M WEAK. I fell off the wagon during market and have not hopped back on it yet. I'm really weak. (Is there a patch for such an addiction?) There is always tomorrow, right!?!

Baby, It's Cold Outside

So, just like that it has started to get chilly outside and I couldn't have my little niece out there unprotected from the elements, so she got this little toboggan from me. It's made with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran yarn and it is super soft. Such a sweetie!

Back to My Routine, Sort Of

For things to be crazy and busy in my life is pretty much the norm, but for the last 2 weeks, it has been uber busy and uber crazy. I wanted to update everyone on the quilt I made to raffle off for the Rally For The Cure Golf Tournament to support Breast Cancer Research. The tournament was last Wednesday and Laurie Borgerson was the lucky winner. All totaled, the raffle raised $906. Thanks to all of the ladies from Oak Valley and my quilting buddies for selling tickets and buying tickets. There is no way we could have sold that many without you! The golf tournament was a big success. I think they raised much more than they ever expected. I was glad I got to be a part of it. I wish I could have attended the tournament, but I was working at the furniture market.

Furniture market was fun and exhausting, as usual. I love helping to set up the showroom, but I am always glad when it is over and I can get back to my "normal" routine. I thought I would share a few pics of the showroom.

Isn't the chest on top of the dresser fab! As always, we have a lot of product to show and not enough space, so we have to get creative with our displays.

Mike Sandel, the talented artist who paints all the furniture and develops the product painted the floor in this area. Not a bad way to spruce up some boring concrete, huh!

Here is some new product with a little modern feel.

Coastal, very romantic this time.

New chest painted with beautiful sunflowers. I'm not a huge fan of sunflowers, but I do love this chest. It would look good in my foyer.

As always, everything came together and looks great. High Point International Furniture Market started on Saturday and runs through the week. After I wrapped things up there on Friday, I came home to my waiting husband and little boy who had the truck packed and ready to go to the mountains. It was cold and rainy at the mountains, but after a week and a half of market, it was nice to relax there.

Fletcher has a little bit of a cold today, so I kept him home from preschool. It's that time of year I guess. These colds come on so quickly. I think I'm getting it, too. Who has time to be sick? Not me!

Needless to say, I have gotten very, very little sewing done. I haven't even had time to do laundry, let alone sew. This week will be spent playing catch up on everything I have pushed off to the side. There are quilts and stockings and purses and dirty bathrooms, and dishes and the grocery store and....you get the picture. A lot!

Giveaway and Class Schedule

Hi Guys- Real quick. Check out Karen Gray's Blog. She posted the new October class schedule and she is also having a fab giveaway with fabrics I am seriously in love with. Also, while your at it, check out Knit One, Smock Too's Blog. They have their October class schedule, as well. Both great shops with great people and great classes.

Nothin' Like Waiting Until the Last Minute

Today is the day. I start working furniture market today. I got the panels I needed to make for the Guildmaster showroom done Last night. Sheww. Glad that's done! I also got the fabric I needed last night to make the last of the Flexsteel Showroom treatments. I think I was the UPS man's last delivery of the day. The fabric got here about 6:30pm. I decided to go ahead and get those drapes done so they wouldn't be hanging over my head. They were completed about 11:00pm. Sheww. Glad those are done, too. My posts might be few and far between until market is over. Hope everybody has a good week and I'll try and post pictures of the showroom as the week goes along.

Just Relax, Will Ya!

So, me and the fellas headed up to the beautiful Virginia mountains this Friday for some down time. Actually, Saturday marked the beginning of bow hunting season and my husband really wanted to try out his new bow. (Disclaimer: I know some are turned off by hunting and this city girl, gone country is not much into it, but it makes him happy and that makes me happy. He supports my hobbies and I am more than happy to support his. Although, you will most certainly not see me holding a gun to shoot anything other than the occasional skeet.) We planned on coming home Saturday night, but the weather was so beautiful, the big buck had been spotted and the date for me to start working market was pushed back until Wednesday, so we decided to stay a couple more days.

I spent my time enjoying my family and getting my Strippy Quilt finished. I was able to sit on the porch swing, look at this beautiful view and hand sew my binding down. Life is good. :)

It's back to reality in the morning. I have a whole list of things to get done before Market starts. But for tonight, I am thinking back at the wonderful weekend I got to spend with no cell phone, no computer, no lists, and no deadlines. Just me and the two I love the most. I am a lucky girl!

Sweetness

I wanted to share with you all (or as we here in the south say, ya"ll) a picture of my sweet little niece. The weather is turning cooler here and my sister was able to put her in the little sweater I knitted for her. Move over Gerber Baby!

I have been busy this week getting projects on my to do list checked off before I start my 2 week adventure helping set up the Guildmaster Showroom for furniture market. I have really gotten so much done. That being said, I still have so much yet to do. Neverending, isn't it! (nature of creative people, I think)

One thing that got checked off was this little bag I made for my friend's little girl. She is taking dance lessons and needed a bag for the ballet shoes. I think this will work. If not, maybe she can put her barbie dolls in it.