From Rags to Rugs!

Late yesterday afternoon Sarah sent me an email with a link to this tutorial on making rag rugs. You can see more pictures here. I think she wanted me to trial run it for her. ;) Well I was of course happy to oblige since it just so happened that on my thrifting trip with Katie on Saturday I picked up a vintage sheet and a good sized piece of vintage material. So I had at it!



So far so good! Honestly the most annoying part is cutting up the sheets which is why I only did halves to start in case I wasn't happy with the finished product. I am using a smaller crochet hook than the one in the tutorial because it gave it a more sturdy feel. I'm loving the color combination as well. I think this could become a bit of a habit for me! I'm thinking an oval next time. Thanks, Sarah! I needed that bit of motivation to get started on something new.

Now I know you're all sitting on the edge of your seats waiting for that Pyrex I teased about, right? LOL! Well I looked it up on EBay and it doesn't sell for that much but who cares! I like it and plan to share it with my mother who seems to be on an eternal hunt for a butter dish:



Creamer, sugar, gravy boat and saucer and butter dish all about $11 minus a 30% discount. Katie's sharp eye found the matching pieces when I snatched up the gravy boat! I don't see much like this in the thrift stores often so it was a nice surprise. Mom you can have the butter dish, we'll have to see about the other pieces. ;)

I thrifted a few more things that day that I plan to share once I get some pictures. My idea of cleaning for Easter included dumping everything unceremoniously into my craft room which included my bag of thrifted goodies.

So tonight I think I'll cut up more "yarn" for the rag rug. I have a light green sheet in my cabinet that hasn't been used since we upgraded to a queen, do you think a green stripe should be next?

updated: please check out the comments from Carrie B. in the comments section! She has some great tips on making fabric strips. She also included a link to a different way to make rag rugs called Toothbrush Rugs! Thanks Carrie, I don't have an email or a blog for so if you want to chat, drop me a line, email is in my profile.

xoxoxo
Rebecca

And now what will I do?

Easter has come and gone. Now what shall I craft for? I am almost done with the Spring Fling Swap (hope to mail that out NO LATER than next Monday, Jenn!) We've had a few emails that some swap packages are already on their way! You still have two weeks to get them out.

So how was your Easter? My friend Stacy and I cooked our little hearts out! It really all came together well despite the fact we overcooked the ziti and decided on mashed potatos instead of a gallette.



Luis' cousins brought two cakes from Veniero's and I made the peach bundt cake. It's from an actual Bundt cake mix I got at the Williams-Sonoma outlet for $4. They are regularly $14 and even though they include the sugar and are really really tasty I doubt I would pay that much for one. I would buy it for $4 again though.

Check out those napkins:



I found the napkins and the enamel napkin rings at the Savers this past Saturday! How lucky on the day before Easter. You know I wouldn't have found a darn thing if I went there looking for them. The napkins were 95 cents each (there are 5) and the 5 rings were in a bag with a few other things for $1.99. Oh and 30% off with another coupon. :) I also found a small table cloth I used on Sunday (but forgot to photograph) and a Pyrex goldmine! I'll post about that later once I get some decent pix.



My feather tree from Sarah was a huge hit! I moved it into the living room where everyone could see it. See my little menageri?



There's my brown courderouy bunny pin cushion from Ms. A and my little crocheted pals. I've decided to keep the pink bunny for next year and will put the duck and the cupcake up in the shop today. The egg is from Joann's and I added a little glitter to spruce it up. I actually got it for a friend but figured I'd put it out for decoration before sending it. Is that wrong? ;)



The kids had a wonderful time and my niece Christina especially loved the kid friendly bar. I had champagne, raspberry champage, sparkling tangerine strawberry punch, seltzer, pom juice, orange juice, raspberries, strawberries and limes. Needless to say, they didn't get any of the champagne. ;)

Wait until you see the wonderful Pyrex set I thrifted. I'm totally tickled by it. More tomorrow!

ciao
Rebecca

Are you ready for Easter?

I made up the baskets last weekend and put the tags on this week. I cut the tags from craft foam with my Sizzix and stuck some sparkly foam bunny stickers on them. They are probably my favorite Easter craft so far. Simple, easy and oh so cute. I see in the picture that Luis' basket (bottom left corner) does not have a tag! Better hop to it I guess. The Easter bunnies work is never done I suppose. And don't you love how the kids baskets are so much bigger than the adults? ;)

What are your Easter plans? We have brunch for Luis' family and a few friends. I'm still not sure what I'm making beyond the traditional ham and some mac and cheese for the kiddos. I'd like to try something new so if you have any ideas, toss them my way! I know I'm making a peach bundt cake and displaying it in my fabulous new cake keeper.

Tomorrow I'm up bright and early to hit the thrift store and the grocery with my dear friend over at An Odd Duck. She has been crazy busy lately and hasn't blogged much but stop by and give her a hollar. She is a wonderful writer! You must read this.

This came in the mail:



Man that's a lot of yarn. I got it from Mary Maxim. I ordered it on Saturday and it was here Wednesday morning. They are super dooper fast! It's for finishing my afghan and I hope it's enough. 15 balls does seem like a lot but it looks a bit smaller now that it's out of the box. :) I think it's time to go through my yarn stash and have a yarn blow out sale right here on Thrifty Goodness. I have a serious fiber addiction.

I hope your weekend is full of fun and family and that however you chose to celebrate Easter that you are safe, happy and content.

All my best,
Rebecca

And then there was Goodness

Well, I managed to take those pictures and my sister posted them all for me. :) So please click on the picture and go visit the Goodness Shop!



Along with Mandi's adorable barrettes you'll see my tea cup pincushions:



shabby chic crocheted pot holders:



and cotton crocheted baby bonnets:



Thank you for looking and for your support in ALL of my crafty adventures. Mandi said she had more comments on her blog than on her My Space page where she knows everyone. I told her that is how craft bloggers are! :)

So how is the swap going? I got an email from Peta today saying she is almost done! She was my Pink and Brown partner and she's pretty quick. :) I'm getting there, I was stuck for something for "I" but my sister gave me a great idea! I should be sending out next week for sure. Don't forget to include an outline of what letter each of your items represents! I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

Ciao!
R

Keeping Up with The Goodness Girls

Okay, remember how I said I was putting things up in the Goodness Shop YESTERDAY? Yeah well, I haven't taken any pictures so in reality there will be things in there tomorrow. I am still having motivation issues I guess. I did make probably the cutest shabby chic crocheted pot holder EVER last night. It'll be in the shop tomorrow MAYBE even with a mate.



My sister, however, has already loaded things to the site. Please visit The Goodness Shop and see her wonderful barrettes for, as she says, girls of all ages. :) Speaking of Mandi, she has decided to become a blogger! PLEASE go and visit her. She needs friends. ;) (did I mention she is my little sister??) Anyway, visit Handi Dandi! Mandi and I are quite different, like she doesn't even go to the thrift store! I know. Craziness. She does, however, seem to like the things I have gotten for her there so I guess that makes it a little better. One similarity is that she is getting married this year as well. :)

****************

I went to the Savers on Saturday. I've been having some good thrifting there lately and I think it might be because I've been going Saturday mornings instead of my usual Sunday. I also had one of those 30% off coupons burning a whole in my wallet. So all the prices below are pre-coupon. :)



napkins - 95 cents each - lovely delicate embroidery.

duck plate - $1.95 - too. cute. for. words.



pillow - $1.95 - this may be my most recent favorite find!



juicer - $1.95 - love these things!

leaf dish - 95 cents - I know have four leaf shaped dishes, that is definately a collection!

spade shaped dish - 45 cents - just plain cute I think

daisy place mats - $1.95 - perfect for the Easter buffet!

And yesterday I mentioned how I found yet another china pattern I adore:



French Saxon China: Pattern: Thistle - 2 plates, 2 small bowls and a sugar bowl - around $5 for the set - you know I NEED the creamer now right? I looked on Ebay and replacements.com and no such luck. I'm hoping one of you comes upon it in your treasure hunting and I get a little thrifting karma for reuniting Heidi's Hazel Atlas sugar bowl with it's long lost mate. :) If you do, let me know! I have much to barter.

Please friends, send me some motivation jou-jou so that I can get pictures taken and things sorted out for the Etsy shop. We are also working on our very own website store as well where we will sell vintage and other used items at a good price. We'll need extra jou-jou to get that done!

xoxoxo
R

The Giving Tree

I have gone on and on about the giving nature of craft bloggers. I have been fortunate to meet so many wonderful people who will send you something just because they knew it would make you smile. :) And smile I did!

Behold my Sarah Tree:



Sarah shipped this all the way from Missouri in the biggest Fed Ex box you ever saw! Don't you just LOVE IT! My measly decorations don't do it justice but I promise you, it will be more appropriately decked in the months to come. THANK YOU SARAH! I can't say that enough.

I will point out one lovely decoration:



This is what I traded my Peep rosette for with Miz Smoochie Lips herself! Isn't it darling??

And on Friday I posted my lovely pin cushion swap items from Ms. A. Well, one of the pincushions was a small bag shaped one and silly me, I thought that WAS the pin cushion and then I noticed that it was kind of lumpy and I wondered what in the world she stuffed it with and low and behold:



There were babies in there! How cute! They sort of remind me of the original Wee. I couldn't bring myself to put pins in them (well not yet at least) so I added them to my inspiration board:



Perhaps you see something up there from you! (sorry for the awful glare.)

Sooooo what did I do this weekend? I felt productive. I got my sewing machine back, made up the Easter baskets for the niece and nephew, thrifted, whipped up a few things for the soon-to-come Etsy shop and made a crappily sewn curtain. It's a start. The "what I didn't get done" list is much much longer since I decided to spend 4 hours working mindlessly on my afghan and getting caught up on my Tivoed programs. The afghan is growing and I had to go online and order 15 more skeins of yarn (how daunting is that!) but I'm loving it. :) I love how I ordered more yarn yet have tons coming out the wazoo. Maybe I'll have a yarn blow out sale once I fire up that Etsy store. I certainly can't seem to knit anything these days. GRR.

cheers!

Rebecca

Oh how I love FRIDAY

This has been one heck of a long work week. It seemed like Friday would never get here. Yippee! Last night Luis decided he wanted to make cookies which basically translated to "you get all the stuff together and I'll watch you bake them." Um no. I did assemble all the ingredients and then steered him toward the KitchenAid:



Not the best picture but I wanted proof that he actually did it. :) I already love this mixer! I have always only had a hand mixer and wow, what a difference just to be able to turn it on and add stuff! I know, I'm way behind in the times I guess. I do see some fancier cakes in my future . . .

Yesterday was a good mail day! I received my swap package from Ms. A! She's fast because I haven't even put mine in the mail to her yet! Yikes!



It's my very own Easter basket of pin cushiony Goodness!



I think the "chocolate" bunny is my favorite. I think I will put him with my crocheted bunny and ducks before I stick pins in him. :) The little sack is made from the sleeve of a felted sweater as is the wrist pin cushion!



How handy! (ha ha pun intended!) Ms. A told me that the edging on this one was made by her Grandmother and is from an old pillowcase beyond repair. Thank you for giving me such a precious piece of your crafty family history!

If I am not mistaken this is Ms. A's first swap! Good job and THANK YOU! Pin cushions will be in the mail by Monday PROMISE. (Oh and thanks for the real chocolate bunnies, they are um . . . indisposed at the moment . . ;) )

A few of you commented that Kaiser, the puppy, looks like a fox. :) That picture is a year and a half old, he's not little kit-like baby any more!



In case you are interested, Kaiser is a Powderpuff Chinese Crested. :)

I just remembered! In her note, Ms. A. wrote "You can't spell Spring without PIN!" There's a good suggestion for what to make for you "P" item in the Spring Fling Swap! (Link corrections to come today I hope!)

Cheers!
Rebecca

A Little Something for ME

I'm sure you are like me. You craft and craft and then you give it all away! You gift those in your life with all of your wonderful handmade treasures yet rarely keep anything for yourself. We're such a giving people, aren't we?? So I decided to make a little something for me. Well a BIG something actually.



It's the start of the BEST AFGHAN EVER. I already love it. Aren't the colors dreamy? Sigh. Seriously. I love it. And it's wicked soft, too. I'm using Bernat Satin. Aside from being soft, you can wash it. Nice. It will be big enough to almost be a spread for our queen sized bed. I put about 5 rows on last night while I got caught up on my . . . um . . . soap opera. Ahem.

Anyway, I was inspired to make it thanks to the ever talented Posey. She's been crocheting up an afghan storm with her rippled and granny square afghans. I never follow through with afghans made in pieces and I don't have that much of a knack for putting colors together either so I decided on a super easy pattern called granny stripes with three repeating colors. Maybe someday I'll ripple up all that extraneous yarn all over the craft room. Hmm . . .

I will apologize again for all the craziness over at Sweet Goodness Swaps. I swear BLOGGER DID IT. Oy. Anyway, I hope everyone has been in touch with their partners or will be soon. If not, drop me a line and I'll see what else I managed to muff up. My partner is Jenn, go visit her! You won't be disappointed. She also has a wonderful Etsy shop.

Speaking of Etsy, my ultra talented sister and I have decided to hawk our wares on Etsy while setting up The Goodness Shop website. Our store is not ready but we hope to unveil it soon. In the mean time I made a banner so I would feel like a contributor:



I'm hoping for a productive weekend so I'll be able to put some fun things in there on Monday. Tomorrow I'll share some of my sister's wonderful hair combs and barrettes!

Before I go, Ms. A asked me to post a picture of my sweet boy Mason:



This is when we first got THAT PUPPY. In the beginning Mason was very annoyed by him but then one day he was finally okay with our new roomie. :) Doesn't he look like he's thinking "why did we get him??"

Have a wonderful night bon-bons!

Rebecca

Swap News and I've been tagged!

First off, get yourselves over to Sweet Goodness Swaps for swap partner news! I can't even tell you how amazing it is to have so many talented women in the swap! I can only imagine the Goodness that will be created. :)

Second, way back a long freakin' time ago I was tagged by Katie. I'm really bad at remembering to do this and know I've been tagged before and missed it so forgive me. I'm crappy at this for some reason. Anyway, I'll give this a shot:


1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be? Right now I'm itching to move back to Baltimore, a little bout of homesickness I guess but I would really love to live anywhere on the coast. I can't imagine not being able to drive to the ocean.

2. What's your favorite article of clothing? I used to be all about clothing and lately I haven't given it much thought. I do spend quite a lot of time in a particularly soft pair of pajamas from Old Navy though.

3. Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex? Eyes for sure and sense of humour. (For those of you that know Louie did you think I was going to say BALD HEAD?)

4. What's the last CD that you bought? I'm definately all about ITunes lately and can't remember actually buying a CD in the last few years. I love the old standards, Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Ella, Etta, you name it. I also like to drink too much wine and sing "Sweet Child O' Mine" on occasion, too.

5. Where's your favorite place to be? I suppose home on my sofa as of late though the sofa is best when it's filled with my DH and two fuzzy buddies. I also really like being on my mother's sofa, too. Notice a trend? No wonder I have to start going to gym.

6. Where is your least favorite place to be? Well aside from the gym I guess I'd have to say any where I don't want to be. I hate feeling restless like I should be doing something else. It makes me quite grouchy.

7. What's your favorite place to be massaged? Tensor fascia lata. I actually used that in a line to pick up a boy once. In my defense, I was in school studying to be a massage therapist at the time.

8. Strong in mind or strong in body? Didn't I say I hated the gym?

9. What time do you wake up in the morning? TOO EARLY. 6:00 am

10. What is your favorite kitchen appliance? Well I just got a KitchenAid mixer but I haven't used it yet. I'm hoping it will make me enjoy baking more. Oh and my Rabbit corkscrew sees a lot of action as well.

11. What makes you really angry? LITTERING. Man I hate it. New York is a filthy city to begin with and people just toss their garbage where ever they please. I saw a man throw an empty coffee out of a subway door, over the platform and down onto the street. I called him what I thought was something meaning "dirty" in Spanish but Luis said it sounded more like armpit. Whatever, he knew what I meant.

12. If you could play any instrument, what would it be? Cello :)

13. Favorite color? RED

14. Which do you prefer...sports car or SUV? I own an SUV. It's great for taking my 70 pound Collie to the park. (We used to have a 2 door Cavalier and we'd have to strap poor Mason into a doggie seat belt in the back and he would cry the whole time.)

15. Do you believe in an afterlife? What you do in life, echoes in eternity.

16. Favorite children's book? As a child I loved The Westing Game. Now, I still read children's books and am a big fan of Harry Potter and His Dark Materials (which I am currently reading again!) They are releasing a movie of The Golden Compass at Christmas and Nicole Kidman is the evil Mrs. Coulter!

17. What is your favorite season? Autumn

18. Your least favorite household chore? All of them, but I guess I hate cleaning the toilet more than maybe say, vacuuming.

19. If you could have one super power, what would it be? I bet every guy I know has a fantastic answer to this question but I guess I'd really just like to fly.

20. If you have a tattoo, what is it? No thanks

21. Can you juggle? If this were 5 years ago my answer would have been "Men? yes. Balls? no."

22. The one person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to? Hmmm . . . well I'd like to tell my EX-best friend a thing or two . . .

23. What's your favorite day? Friday Happy Hour!

24. What's in the trunk of your car? Sprint crap, 3 umbrellas, a handful of dog toys and some Windex.

25. Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger? Both please!

Now, if you've made it this far, the person who is the first to comment with the name of the movie I quoted above and who said it will receive a little Goodness in their mailbox.

Cheers!
Rebecca

THANK YOU!

Thank you all for the wonderful birthday wishes! I had a truly enjoyable weekend despite a bit too much wine on Friday night with Joolz. Oy. ;) Saturday brought me good luck at the thrift store considering I thought about turning back about 50 times before I got there thanks to my throbbing brain. I am glad I suffered through it for look at my bounty!



mason jar - 99 cents - yes I know, how many of these do I need? But I will use them I SWEAR.

Japanese tea cups (upper left) 99 cents each - these were just too cute to pass up! I love the patchwork look to them.

bowl - 99 cents - I thought the blue was bright and lovely and the price was right!

blue lotus bowls - $1.99 each - I about sighed out loud when I say these. How cute! I love the color, the shape, you name it. Made in Japan no less!

Mikasa tea cups - $1.99 each - I need more cups like I need a hole in the head but . . . well you know. The pattern is Margaret.


Found among those random bags of stuff . . .



bunny salt & pepper shaker set - $1.99 for the bag - um . . . you can ROLL the condiments down the table.

shoe pincushion - 99 cents for the bag - this is too cute for words and prompted me to search on EBay for other tiny pin cushions. I didn't bid on anything (I have crappy EBay luck) but I might . . . I just might.



flocked Easter picks - $1.99 for the bag - So cute and vintage! There are tags on some of them that have an address for a store on Broadway in Manhattan and say "Parisienne Made in Hong Kong 10 cents."



miniature Easter ornaments and baskets - $1.99 for the bag - the ornaments are wooden and tiny! Some close ups:



These were difficult to photograph . . . the birds nests are my favorites:



Perhaps I'll be able to use one of them in the doll house. (Speaking of, I need to paint it before I assemble it and it recommends latex paint which means I have to go to Home Depot or something and well . . . I don't get there much. Plus I'm on the fence about colors but I'll leave that to another post.)

So anyway, hung over thrifting seems to work for me. :)

Today is the last day to sign up for the Spring Fling Swap! By my calculations I think we are close to 50 participants! Needless to say, Lucy and I hope to get your partners out ASAP but please bear with us. We will at least post a list on Sweet Goodness Swaps and those of you with partners with blogs can check each other out and we'll get email addresses and home addresses out within the next few days. I've already started gathering all things pink and green!

Cheers!
Rebecca

Beautiful Day

Yesterday was my birthday. I was going to say something but then sort of . . . forgot. That's how it is with birthdays as you get older I guess. Not that I'm OLD or anything. ;) My sweet dear husband (how fun it is to say that!) brought me gorgeous roses and the big box of chocolates from Godiva. AND I got a card. Yes, you heard me, an honest to goodness Hallmark card. He forgot to sign it but it's a start anyway.



This girl likes red, you think? :) That curtain up there is thrifted by the way. The wreath was hung for Christmas in 2005 and there it still hangs today.

Here's a lovely new blog for you to visit, The T-Cozy. A while ago Leigh Ann told me about a wonderful tea shop she visited in Connecticut and how we should certainly take a trip up there when she and I finally get together to meet. Well this is the shop and it's lovely! AND they have an antique store! Can you say ROAD TRIP?

Well my little bon-bons, have a fabulous weekend and I'll be thinking of you as I hit the thrift store tomorrow morning!

ciao!
R

Crocheted Bunny

A few people sounded interested in my "Peep shaped" crocheted bunny so here is the pattern!



Sweet Bunny

Crochet Hook "I"*

Lily Sugar & Cream Cotton - 1 ball of your color choice

ribbon of your color choice

polyfil/stuffing/cotton balls

Make two bunny bodies:

Row 1 - chain (ch) 11

Row 2 - 1 single crochet (sc) in 2nd chain from end and every chain, turn (10 sc)

Row 3 - ch 1, 2 sc in first sc, 1 sc in each sc until last sc, 2 sc in last sc, turn (12 sc)

Row 4 - repeat row 3 (14 sc)

Row 5 - ch 1, 1 sc in every sc, turn (14 sc)

Rows 6 - 13: Repeat row 5 eight times

Row 14 - ch 1, decrease in first 2 sc: draw up loop through first sc and then draw up second loop through second sc and single crochet together = sc2tog, 1 sc in each sc until last 2 sc, sc2tog in last 2 sc, turn (12 sc)

Rows 15 - 16: repeat row 14 twice (8 sc)

Rows 17 - 18: repeat row 3 twice (12 sc)

Rows 19 - 23: repeat row 5 five times (12 sc)

Rows 24 - 26: repeat row 6 three times (6 sc)

*this completes the body, one ear is made and then the second

Row 27 - ch 1, 1 sc in first 2 sc, turn (2 sc)

Row 28 - ch 1, 2 sc in first 2 sc, turn (4 sc)

Row 29 - ch 1, 1 sc in each sc, turn (4 sc)

Rows 30 - 33: repeat row 29 4 times (4 sc)

Row 34 - ch 1, sc2tog twice, turn (2 sc)

Row 35 - ch 1, sc2tog and finish off

Attach yarn to first sc opposite the first ear with a slip stitch

Repeat Rows 27 - 35 for second ear

Place bunny bodies together and attach yarn to bottom right corner with slip stitch. Chain 1 and single crochet around bunny tucking in yarn ends as you go. Stop on bottom left corner stuff bunny using your crochet hook to push stuffing up into ear. Do not over stuff! The one you see above is a little too chubby and his stuffing is showing through. Continue doing single crochet to close up bottom opening. Finish off and weave in yarn end. Tie ribbon around neck and add button or embroidery eyes if desired. Enjoy!


I hope this pattern makes sense, I've never written one before. If you try it and it doesn't work please let me know! You can always increase or decrease the number of chains at the beginning to change the size of your bunny just remember to resize the ears appropriately.

I tried a crocheted chick last night but let's just say that the dogs are loving their new toy. It looked more like a sponge. :) I am going to try to make felt chicks this weekend or maybe a few of these. Go over to to Bee's blog and see her felt versions here and here! Love them!

Oh and for some fun shopping visit Tender Heart Treasures. They have the cutest shabby chic table items! My favorites are these adorable covered pastry stands:



So cute! They are a bit pricey for me at $60 but they have lots of deals, too, like this biscuit server:



and this three tiered server:



both are only $15! Can you tell I'm in a pastel Spring mood?

Speaking of SPRING, only FOUR MORE DAYS to sign up for the Spring Fling Swap! Go here for details and to send us your info. We'll be posting soon about a spending limit of $20 on the included swap items not including postage. Stay tuned!

Cheers!
Rebecca

Randomness

I am quite scatterbrained today. I really feel distracted and disorganized. No particular reason just no focus I guess. So that will result in a post of pure randomness. And away we go . . .

I plan to post the pattern for my Peep-like crocheted bunnies tomorrow. I want to make another and make sure I wrote it all down properly. I also will be trying to make a chick as well. Wish me luck!

I made a single Easter rosette last weekend to send to the ever talented Tia.



I must have the word "peep" on the brain. :) I figure to make a few more for myself and the girls to wear on Easter. This one is 3 inches and like my others has a pin back.

I made some tags for items with a future in the Goodness Shop:



I enjoy just staring at them . . .

I saw the movie 300 in the IMAX at Lincoln Center last night. All I can say is WOW. It's visually amazing and fairly true to historical fact. (I am some what of an ancient history buff, I know that sounds odd . . .) Plus, there are some seriously ripped (computer generated) men running around in leather underpants. Hmm . . . anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed it especially the strong willed queen. It is quite bloody (al beit computer generated blood) so avoid it unless you liked movies like Troy and Gladiator.

And just to throw one more random thing into the mix . . . I never shared any of my adventures on my bachlorette weekend. This is why I love my dear girlfriend Dita:



That would be yours truly on the left on the dear sweet Dita on the right. I believe we were gettin' our groove on. And by the way, this is BEFORE we went out. Oy.

I could go on but I won't bore you. I'll save it for another random day.

Be good!
Rebecca

Busy Bee

Happy Monday! :) It's almost spring and we have snow everywhere. And it's not even the pretty kind sigh . . . . to combat the blustery cold I put myself in a springy mood and "hatched up" a whole batch of pastel goodies . . .



It was "crochet mania" on my sofa this weekend! These guys are way cuter in person. My favorite is the dark aqua duck in the back. I used Lion Brand cotton for that one and Lily Sugar and Cream for the rest.



The duck pattern takes about 20 minutes to whip up and can be found here. I think you have to sign up for an account to view patterns but it's free. The bunny is my own pattern and if anyone is interested I could write it up and post it.



The cupcake pattern can be found here. Pink and brown, are you surprised? Hmm maybe I'll use this for my pin cushion swap . . .

I also made some Easter ornaments. What is it with me and ornaments? I don't even have an Easter tree! I am SO happy with the way these turned out. I think they might even be shop quality!



The images are from cards I scanned in and then printed. I glued them to wooden circles, backed the wooden circles with decorative paper, added silver rick rack trim, a ribbon hanger and glittered them up!



What do you think? If you are interested in the bunny image I used above you can go here and copy it. It's one of the cards I recently found at thrift. And speaking of vintage Easter cards, did you know I'm the LUCKY HAPPY winner of the drawing Heidi had? Oh yes, I am a winner. :)

I'm glad I've saved all of my Christmas cards from the last few years. :) Christmas versions of these ornaments will certainly be in the Goodness shop come Fall. I will share more info on the Goodness shop soon but basically I plan to open an online store for vintage items and hand made goodies. I will be collaborating with other crafters and thrifters as well. You guys are my sounding board on what you think would be good items for sale so please be honest and hollar away! Also, I plan to keep the prices as low as I can.

Remember to sign up for the Spring Fling Swap over at Sweet Goodness Swaps. I'm already racking my brain on what I'm going to send!

Ciao bellas!
Rebecca