Braggin' Rights & Christmas Trees

Well, I guess we did it - another year of bragging rights for the Auburn Tigers!

Even with all of the history and the years and years of rivalry, it still amazes me how crazy we all get over this game. I mean, don't get me wrong - I love it! But, I just know how defeated, and let down, embarrassed I would have been if we had lost.

We decided not to go down to Auburn for the game this year. I am a little glad we didn't go and kind of wish we had been there. I know it would have been pure debauchery if we had though, and I wasn't really up for all that! So, all that being said - War Eagle!

Oh - and if you watched the game at home, you probably heard the song "Saturday in Dixie" play several times and especially at the beginning. That song was written and sung by one of Jason's best friends from Selma, Lance Brown. You can hear a clip of the song at: www.SaturdayinDixie.com

On a different note, we put up a bunch of our Christmas decorations yesterday. I think we are the first on the street to have lights up! (Tacky? No, just on the ball!) We went with an artificial tree this year. I still have mixed emotions about it. It was a donatation from Neil and Lisa, so with it's affordability we had to give it a shot! I put it together a few days before Thanksgiving and put the lights on it yesterday. After Christmas, we are probably going to leave it put together and leave the lights on it, put a trash bag around it and leave it in the garage till next year. I think real and artificial are ALMOST equal trouble - I mean at least this year they are. Artificial - you have to store all year, put it together, put lights on it if it is not prelit, then take it back apart. Real - you have to go out and get it, pay a fortune for it only to watch it die, water it, clean up needles a few times a week, then take it down and haul it away. Then there are the good things. Artificial - no watering, no cleaning up pine needles, one time payment - consider it an investment! Or with our situation it was much more affordable being free! Real - kicking off your Christmas Spirit by going to get the tree, the wonderful smell of pine, and of course they just look better. Last year I swore I would never have another real tree. After the watering and the mess and the fact that we bought one about twice the size that we should have. Then it falls over twice - once on top of me - and breaks several very special ornaments. Well, this year is just a test after all. Who knows - next year we may have two trees. One real, one artificial.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Mimi's Rompers
Originally uploaded by lesteal624

Look at these little cuties that I got finished yesterday! I'll definitely need to do some more of these!

On a different note, today is about being thankful - and I am!
All of my supportive friends
The opportunity to do something I love
For a wonderful husband
The best family I could ask for
A beautiful home
Two big sweet doggies
Food on the table and a roof over our heads
My health and the health of my loved ones
RAIN!
And so much more!

I hope everyone has a beautiful Thanksgiving! Now, let's eat some turkey!

War Eagle Cosmetic Tote

War Eagle Cosmetic Tote
Originally uploaded by lesteal624

Look what I made tonight! I got all of my diaper bags, wallets, totes, purses and duffles in today and I am so excited about them! I want one of everything! I've had a few orders already (thank you!), but if you are reading this and haven't ordered yet - don't miss out on the introductory price!

She's my Cherry Pie

She's my Cherry Pie
Originally uploaded by lesteal624

Well, here she is - the first of Spring Casual! Yes, the picture is horrible, but the outfit is cute! I cropped out the curtains in the background, but I probably shouldn't have - that way I could brag about finally being finished with them. Or, at least as finished as I plan on being for a while. I need one more panel on each side, but the season doesn't permit for spending on myself. (However, I do plan on trying to stop by Saks today and use a gift card that I have been holding onto forever. I have been feining for a new pair of jeans.) It's wierd - I always ask for gift cards for various gift giving occasions, and then I feel like I have to save them for whatever reason. A rainy day I suppose. Well, it is looking a little like rain today, so I guess that's as good an excuse as any!

I have a birthday party to go to today where I plan on being the best gift giver there. (ha ha? No, really I do) Jason always gives me a hard time for giving people handmade gifts. He says that everyone opens their gifts and thinks, "oh great, another outfit from Anna." (In a sad voice of course, not a happy one.) I kind of feel that way too sometimes, but not today. I know this one is going to be a hit!

Last of Christmas....

Penguin
Originally uploaded by lesteal624

This is it! The end of my Christmas line - all shipped out! Last night, I made a list of all the things I could think of that I want to make for Spring. The list is long and I better get going! I'm trying to reduce my ever growing fabric selection and make things out of what I already have before I start buying new stuff. Time to get some return on the investments I made in that fabric that has been sitting unused on my shelf! (I have also had to buy more shelves at the request of my husband....my insanely unorganized sewing room really gets under his skin!) He's gone today though and it is sew sew sew all day long. I really can't justify organizing this room just yet - too much else to do. Eventually it will get done.....Here's hoping....

Christmas Faces

November 07 007
Originally uploaded by lesteal624

I completed this project last night at my smocked insert class! It is a gift for a certain little lady and hopefully her mom will not be reading this before her birthday party! I was too excited not to post this picture - it has turned out just perfectly! I can't wait to do more of these!

Smocking up a storm!

Ok, so I have been a very bad blogger lately - sorry. I have pretty much been bad at everything communication related. Haven't been responding to emails, etc. You know, it's just different now that I'm not getting paid by salary. When I was at work, I could sit around and email all day long and still get paid. Now, if I am emailing, I'm not "working" and not getting paid. So, I guess it is just different working for yourself.....much better, but different.





All that being said, I have been very busy lately. Between getting party orders and Christmas orders filled (and the ones in between) I have been at The Smocking Bird at least two days a week taking classes. First it was smocking, then yoke construction (learning to put my smocked inserts into outfits) and next (today) it is putting the smocked inserts into Tshirts. Monday, I start another class learning to do picture smocking rather than just the geometric designs.

My trunk shows are done for 2007 and they were quite a success - especially since these were the first I'd ever done! I really appreciate all of you who held shows for me and those of you who want to hold one in 2008! I'm so excited about the Spring shows and have lots of goals to be met between now and when they start back up in February. For Spring I would like to have a lot more "off the rack" things available for guests to buy. One, it's easier on me, two, people like to go home with something in their hands. I love love love Spring stuff too. Last night I created my first 2008 outfit....no pictures yet, but it is called "She's My Cherry Pie"! haha! It is a white short sleeved lettuce edge shirt with appliqued cherries with stems on it. The skirt (or shorts - can't decide) are black with little cherries all over it. I am also planning on making smocked tshirts available (we'll see how tonight's class goes)





I can't believe it is time for the holidays already. I'm so excited about decorating for Christmas! Too bad no one will see my decorations this year. I don't think we are doing any Christmas celebrating here at our house.





Oh, more goals....I am going to really work hard at updating my website. I will have to since it will be out of season, but there are other things I want to do.....like have all of my fabric swatches available on the site. It is a lot of work and very time consuming, but will make things better in the long run. Also, I want to get up all of my customer photos. I have several up right now, but I would like for it to be more organized and finally get up everything that everyone has sent me. I know that doesn't sound like much, but the website takes up so much time, I have to almost dedicate an entire day to it. It is also pretty boring - I would much rather be sewing.





Well, that is it for now - I know I say this every time I haven't written in a while, but I promise I will try to do better! Things were so exciting for a while, I actually had something to write about every day, but now it is just work work work!

Oh, and here are some pics of my little angel Niki winning Beauty Night this year! It has really been her year!

Ok, back to the grindstone!