Marvelous Monday Update 7/20/09

WEATHER
The weather was overcast most of the weekend, and temps were unusually cool for this time of year (more like Fall temps). Overall, it's been pretty nice. I'm thankful for the cooler temps since I'm still getting quotes for a new furnace and CA unit.


STITCHING SANCTUARIES
I borrowed the term from Deborah, who affectionately calls her room the "stitching sanctuary". Some of us are blessed to have entire room devoted to our craft(s), while others call a small corner their "sanctuary". I'm still working on mine. Right now, my "spot" is an end of the couch. If you want to see a beautiful stitching sanctuary, check out THIS (french) one. Isn't it awesome?! Do you have photos of your stitching sanctuary?


ARMOIRE CONTEST RESULTS
Out of 47 guesses (Wow!), there were FIVE people who guessed correctly! So how much was the armoire I found at the SA store? I paid $75 for that awesome piece of furniture! I found it "cute" a couple of people guessed that JT bought the armoire for me. I bought the armoire, and he delivered it to my house for me. Wasn't that nice?

So, who are the winners???

*drum roll, please*

Sue V of Sue's Small World of Stitching
CJ of Tea and Stitches
Debbie (craftygal)
Beth of Beth's Blog - Stitching & More
Joy of The Busy Stitcher's Babble

I would like each of you will email me with your preference of color: brown, tan, purple, mauve, or pink. I have a special surprise in mind for each of you! It will take a little time, but expect something in the coming weeks.

Opportunity's Favorite Disguise

I read this on one of my groups and thought it was worthy of sharing:


Opportunity' s favorite disguise is trouble.

When problems show up we often allow ourselves to become focused and fixated upon the negative aspect of what's before us feeling that, somehow something 'bad' is happening to us.

Yet when you understand the law of polarity and you realise:

Every up has a down,
Every left has a right,
Every light has a dark,
Every inside an outside,

then you soon start to realise that you've been given a gift, not a curse. For that bad is leading us to a new good. We only have to look for it to see it!

What good is a current 'bad' in YOUR life trying to show YOU?

La-D-Da Fan?

Jolene at Dip Diddly Designs has a great giveway going on over at her blog. Take a virtual walk on over! (There's also a great story about giving up chocolate!)

L@@king For Armoire Pulls

If anyone knows of an inexpensive place to get drawer pulls, please let me know. This is what I'm looking for (or something similar):

These pulls are called rosette bail pulls and have a 6 1/4" center-to-center (6 1/4" bore between the screw holes). I've looked on Lowe's and Home Depot websites -- the pulls are too small. I've also tried google searches, ebay, and second-hand stores with no luck.

That "Scary" Room

Ever since I've moved to the "The Homestead", I've used my spare bedroom as a "catch all" room because I was too lazy busy and overwelmed with it all to throw it away figure out where and what to do with the junk stuff. To hide my shame, I always kept the door shut. You know the saying, "Out of sight, out of mind." LOL - Hey, it worked for me! Well, at least it did until I had to go in "there".

Let me give you the grand tour into the world of my overwhelming mess. Here's a peek into THAT room:

As we venture fully into the vast wilderness of junk (ahem) stuff and look around, we realize just HOW MUCH is in this tiny little room!

First, I'd like to direct your attention to the King of the Jungle, Simba, sitting high upon mountains of photo albums. Simba really does roar! In the valley to your right is a $15 wood desk I refinished, added a glass top, and found a chair to match (more on the chair later).

Off to our left is a dresser mirror that's extremely tall for MY bedroom. What better place than to assume residence in "that scary room"?? Standing guard in front, are two hefty tubs full of my parents' family photos (Yes, Mom *I* have them. Dad says I can have them store them. Did I just say that???). For a bit more protection, there's the desk chair that belongs on the OTHER side of the room where the desk settled. Oh, and let's not forget the anaconda at your feet as you enter the room, better known as a futon mattress folded in half (seen in the first pic).

Gazing farther to the south, you can see boxes of more junk "important stuff" that were never unpacked. Call it lack of time. Call it "save for rainy day". No, let's just call it what it is... Just didn't feel like unpacking them. (LOL) If you're really quiet and look carefully, you'll spy what is a small portion of a computer desk covered in a myriad of... you guessed it... more stuff! Beneath the stack of pillows (WHO really needs that many spare pillows, anyway?), are two large tubs of framed photos and cross stitch that have yet to be put on walls. *sigh* Someday....

Lastly, I'd like to turn your attention to your right. Sorry about the cockeyed photo.... results of trying to lean backwards while standing in the corner of that last pic. Anywho, back to the tour. My parents bought me that dresser when they moved into THEIR first home (I was 10!). It's nothing special, but it's been dragged from place-to-place since I moved away from home. On top of it is a small portion of my stash. Notice the mattress standing proud and tall? It does have a frame... somewhere... I *do* know where it's at (I think -just kidding-). It's in the basement. Powers to be figured there was no use and relocating MORE furniture into this room. Between the mattress and dresser is the door to the closet. Can you see it there?? It's packed full, too. No surprise there, eh?

After two months of dating, JT was finally allowed to see the "scary" room. Despite what he said: "Oh, it's not that bad, babe." (Uh huh.) Thanks for being such a sweetheart.

This concludes your tour of That Scary Room. Stay tuned for a future installment...