Show and Tell Monday, 9/29/30

My computer fizzled yesterday morning and nothing I did could revive my internet connection. After an hour or so with the techie, I'm finally up and running. Such a rainy and dreary weekend, I decided to attempt a new technique. Now, understand, I am not a quilter. I had seen a really nice book cover a while ago and thought I would attempt one. Step one was cut your fabric into various sized strips - deep breath. Okay, I did it. Now sew one strip at a time onto a base of batting. So, there I was zipping right along when I took a look at this new (?) fabric I was creating. I am here to tell you--just because you like a bunch of fabrics, doesn't mean they are going to look good together. I'm not exactly sure what it is I have created, a new dust cloth maybe. I've got it, a moving blanket for a doll house. So here for Show and Tell is one of my great ideas run amok! They can't all be brilliant.

A Stitch In Time

Tomorrow is Pink Friday at Make Mine Pink. This week's theme is "A Stitch In Time". This could mean a stitch that has some history behind it, antique linens and clothing, or something made brand new for tomorrow's shopping extravaganza. This might also me items with a stitching theme. I think it will be a fabulous mix with all the boutiques at Make Mine Pink.



Don't forget, Christmas is coming and most of these boutiques offer special pricing for the One Day Sale. Anyone who enjoys antique or vintage linens, unique craft items, home made journals, jewelry, will thoroughly enjoy a gift made by one of the talented artisans at Make Mine Pink.



Hope to see you there, bring coffee or tea and just relax with a wonderful group of ladies. Just go to Make Mine Pink and click on Pink Friday. The list of participating shops will be right there, just click on a shop name and it will take you directly to the Pink Friday offerings. Easy and enjoyable!

What a Marvelous Weekend

Have arrived back home from the Make Mine Pink First Annual Retreat. I left with a bit of trepidation. Contrary to popular belief, I am a rather shy person. It was a huge step for me to leave my responsibilities behind and take the few days for just me.

My first stop on Thursday night was at the home of another 'Pinkie', Carolyn. We have only known each other for a few months of posting on the forum and, more recently, a few phone calls. She had already picked up another member, Gail, at the airport. This sweet lady opened her home to two virtual strangers. The most amazing thing happened, there was no awkwardness at all. The three of us had a lovely dinner with the three of us and Carolyn's Mom who is another sweetheart. We stayed up for a little while chatting and laughing before heading to bed so we would be bright-eyed and bushy tailed for our early start to Williamsburg, VA, Friday morning. We didn't get out quite as early as we had hoped, but off we set on our adventure.

We had many laughs because we were using a GPS. None of us had ever used one before so it was quite comical to have 'Lola' talking to us all along the route. Being she had such alot to say, my backup navigator decided to get her dressed in pink-a lovely pink floral paper hat and a huge ribbon of tulle and pink polka dotted ribbon. This was quite the dashboard ornament.

We arrived in Williamsburg and so began our whirlwind weekend.

We went up to the Make Mine Pink Hospitality Suite to meet any members who were up there. From the moment we saw each other, there was an amazing feeling of comraderie and, again, no awkwardness. Everyone I met was just as I expected them to be. There is no facades on our forums, these women are just the same in person as they are in print! We had a few hours before the official Meet and Greet so the three of us went to take in some of the sights of Colonial Williamsburg. What an awesome place! I just loved it. We had lunch at an authentic colonial tavern and then wandered the street and shops for a short while. The sense of history surrounding you is great. I could just move in to one of those colonial houses and be happy as a clam (if I could have indoor plumbing and central A/C). What a fun way to be able to live.

The Meet and Greet was so much fun. A buffet table of all types of pastries, puddings, cobblers, brownies--you name it! Then back to the Hospitality Suite for some more laughter and gabbing. Even the keynote speaker for Saturday's seminars joined in the fun (Lena West who was such a fun person. I am so glad I got to meet her).

We headed to bed later than we should have but found it hard to tear away from all these fun people. Saturday morning rolled around a bit quickly. Back to the Hospitality Suite at 7 AM for coffee and... We then went to the hotel's conference center for our day of information overload. The speakers were experts in their fields and I learned so much to help my business. I have pages and pages of notes that I will be poring over for the next few weeks. Every two hours, our fearless leader, Joyce, had planned a break with some scrumptious something to sustain us. Morning break was coffee and warm apple turnovers (my personal favorite), Lunch was a fun Pink (of course) Bag Lunch, delicious, afternoon break, chocolate brownies and ice cream.

As soon as the seminars were over, it was time to get the BRA entries out and set up (Business Recognition Award). I cannot believe the talent that was in that room. These displays were spectacular. As gorgeous as everyone's products look on line, it doesn't hold a candle to what we were treated to that night. I am so proud to be a member of this group. And then on to the Pink Gala. We had dinner, of course, then the Pink Bingo game, then the Pink t-shirt and tennis shoe competition. We had so many laughs over this. I believe the winner, Inka, must be several inches shorter after wearing her blinged up shirt-I believe someone said the shirt weighed 35 pounds!! She was done up as a flamingo just too funny.

The business Recognition Award was won by a very sweet lady, Eileen. What a chance of a lifetime the prize is. A ton of advertising, professional photos of her products and a consultation with a PR firm--WOW! Then came the daunting project of dismantling and packing the displays. This was one tired bunch of women, let me tell you!

Sunday morning, back to the Hospitality Suite for our last coffee chat together in person. Joyce, her husband, two of her darling daughters, the adorable granddaughter, Lily, Joyce's sister Wands were there to bid us farewell.

This was a truly life changing weekend. I have come back home so ready to take me business up to the next level

September 15 Show and Tell Monday

Here we are, good ol' Show and Tell Monday at Make Mine Pink. I just love checking out what everyone has been up to for the week. Actually, I enjoy looking at everybody else's a whole lot more than I enjoy posting my own. That's what happens when you are surrounded by so many talented women.

My entire week has been either working at my daytime job or working here at home on my Business Recognition Award presentation. I have put so much time and energy into this presentation, I thought I would give you all a sneak preview!

Now how silly do you think I am?? You know I couldn't let the cat out of the bag yet! Have a great week all. I probably will not be back on the blog until after I return from the Make Mine Pink Retreat (September 19-21). I'm sure I will have lots of pictures and lots of stories to tell. Cannot wait to hear these speakers and then, fun, fun, fun! Could be a rowdy bunch with many of the Pink Sisters in one place!

9/11/08 - Tomorrow is Pink Friday

Cannot not let today go past without mentioning that I remember. The number of people affected by 9/11 seven years ago is so large up here in our little corner of the world. We have become a little bedroom county of NYC. So many people commute from up here to the city everyday to work that I would venture to say no one in Orange County didn't know someone or of someone that was killed that day. My prayers to the families who are left without a loved one and must have this brought to the forefront annually, to those that were injured, both physically and emotionally, to those that helped and carry those memories of what they saw that day and the days following, to those who have been brave enough to go back there and carry on the routines of daily life, to the firefighters who have the courage to continue doing their job, to those who continue to thumb their nose at the terrorists and their backers by flying our flag proving that the United States can be hurt but we cannot be beaten.
There is no segway back to every day life after this,
just a reminder that tomorrow in Pink Friday, our theme this week is Harvest Home. Please come and check the shops who are participating. They are all listed and linked on the Make Mine Pink website for your convenience. Hope to see you there.

Show and Tell-A Day Early - 9/7/08

Have lots of things to tell you about today. First off, we have been going through some difficult times up here. On a particularly bleak day, I opened up on the private Make Mine Pink forums that I had been really down. Well, aside from the usual support (which is the norm at Make Mine Pink) within the week, some beautiful angels began showing up in my mailbox. They have been coming a few a day every since. The return addresses are all from Angel of Hope and all over the country. One was so funny, from Angel in Training! To whoever the angel is who started this thank you, you have made a big difference in our lives. There is comfort to be had knowing complete strangers will take a bit of time from their own busy lives to send a prayer and a bit of hope. To all of you Angels of Hope, thank you. I sincerely hope some of you see this post and pass it on to all your sister angels.

On a less serious note, I have had some incredible luck with the 'Curbside Boutique', or my son has anyway. I have gotten 2 tables that are really cute. One is a little beat and needs some major TLC and a face lift. The other may be a good table. The wood looks like tiger maple and I think it might be fairly old. My antique friends (hmm, that didn't come out right, I, of course, mean those who deal in antiques) might be able to tell me a bit about it. I have several photos of that one to let you check out.This, of course, is the one in need of a major make over. but I think it may be cute when done. Next comes the one that seriously intrigues me. My son found this for me on a roadside up in Vermont. Makes me want to move up there just for trash day!

Table top

Table legs

table top tilted up-see the catch that holds it. So, what do you think? I'm thinking that little pedestal might be for a candle stick to sit upon. Good Vermont trash?

Pink Friday-Romantic Bed and Bath

Well, it's Friday and as you all know by now, it's Pink Friday. This week's theme is Romantic Bed and Bath--sounds a tad risque, don't you think?? We have had a good time over at Make Mine Pink preparing for this one. It's truly amazing how many of us are geared in that direction, makes you wonder. This week I've added some mineral salts from the Dead Sea mixed with sweet almond oil--yumm. I read somewhere that sweet almond oil is what Jackie O used on her skin, heavens knows her skin was gorgeous. This is so good for your skin, just have to find the time to soak for 15 minutes or so (which always seems to be my problem).

Then there are some lovely herbal bath sachets, also incredibly good for your skin. Can you tell I've always had problems with my skin in the winter. I see fall heading our way and it's skin care, skin care, skin care. As always, the products are all natural, dry skin is sensitive.

Have a wonderful time shopping the Pink Boutiques at Make Mine Pink. Click on the Pink Friday icon and it will take you to all the participating boutiques. Sit back in your jammies, have a nice cuppa, and revel in all the luxuries being offered for Pink Friday.

Top Secret

The holiday weekend is over and it marks the end of summer for most of us. My grandchildren start school today. Spoke with them last night to wish them all luck. Got to hear about the outfits everyone had chosen for the first day, they are just so much fun. I just love that they enjoy sharing their thoughts with me. I had to work Saturday and Sunday, so no barbecues or anything much fun for us, sigh. I was supposed to work on Monday, but there were extra nurses so I volunteered to be the one to go home. Came home and crawled back into bed! I cannot tell you how good that felt, ahhhhhhh.

I have been busy, busy, busy. So much to do and the clock is ticking down. The Make Mine Pink Retreat is in 2 more weeks, September 19-21. We are going to be having a pink T-shirt and pink sneaker contest. Each of the MMP members has to 'bling' up these items for a contest our fearless leader, Joyce Lucas, has dreamed up. When it comes to having fun, these Pinkies sure know how to get into it. So, part of this week's projects will be my blinging projects. The important project for the next two weeks is my entry for the Business Recognition Award. The prize is simpy phenomenal, (worth about $4000!). The winner will be in a feature ad in a major magazine, the winner's boutique will get 6 spotlight ads in major magazines, the winning display will be photographed by a professional photographer (wow) and then last but not least the winner will have an hour's consultation with a PR expert. This is some serious exposure for the lucky winner. So that's why I am feeling so much pressure to get this done well. Sure do wish I had some experience in this type of display work!This sure is a Launch to Remember. There is some major competition, many of the MMP ladies are exceptional at setting up displays and have had some experience at other shows and conferences. (Are my nerves showing???) So, to make up for no photos of my top secret projects, how about an idea to make a pomander for Christmas. This is a nice project to do with children, not too terribly messy, just messy enough to be great fun!

To make CITRUS POMANDER BALLS you will need about a quart of citrus peels. I just save them in a Ziploc in the freezer until I have enough. Get as much of the pith (the white stuff) off the rinds as you can. Put the rinds in a food processor and process until finely chopped. To this add about 1/2 cup of ground cinnamon, about 1/4 cup of ground cloves and pulse in processor until well blended. If this is too dry to hold its shape when rolled like a meatball add a few drops of glycerin at a time until it will hold its shape. You may also use 1/4 cup of ground orris root which is a fixative and will help retain the scent of the pomanders for a very long time. Roll approximately one tablespoon of this mixture between the palms of your hands to make a ball. Place formed balls on a waxed paper lined cookies sheet, not touching, and let them dry for at least a week and a half, two or three weeks is better. These are brown when finished (due to the spices). They smell heavenly. I have a bowl full in my kitchen all the time. Just be careful, these are not edible and I cannot tell you how many people have grabbed one to take a bite, thinking they are meatballs. Have fun! I like them just set in a bowl, but they are very pretty on the Christmas tree if you wrap them in a square of organza in the color of your choice and tie with a pretty ribbon. (If you don't want to do this yourself, they will be available on my website in a week or so.)