Saturday Hyjinx

We were so blessed to have daughter #1 and her two kids come to the new shop on Saturday to help out a little bit and maybe even snag a little fun in here and there. Obviously Grandpa found time to give some rides on one of the carts...... Is that Abby getting ready to become a parade float queen? I think so! Hunter is waving, too, but I think he was more interested in not falling off the front of the cart.

A & H ham it up for me as grandpa gives them a ride on the forklife. Then Hunter got interested when they started to lift all the grocery store sign paper.......... Abby is still smiling for the camera. What a gal!
When they got done riding, all we could hear up front was Hunter shouting at the top of his voice, "Grandpa!!! That was AWESOME!!!!!" Oh, to be four years old again. Made our day. It was a fabulous day and through all the fun, we got a lot of work done, too.

Nasty Weather & Feeling Guilty

First off, the weather is just plain crummy outside. It's cold, rainy and windy. Ugh

Second, feeling guilty because Bill told me to stay home today and get caught up on laundry and get a little more caught up in the knitting department. So he was off to work at 7 this morning. Two grandkids spent the night, but 'big fat fwampa' was gone before they rolled out of bed. I would have kept them longer had I known he wanted me to stay home. But plans do change, don't they. :)

My camera is at work. Bill is at work. I shall enjoy my coffee, yarn, and the smell of fabric softener today. Maybe even some L&O-CI????? I'm sure USA has some type of marathon going on.

Still Alive, Working & Kicking AND Knitting!

Yep, it's Saturday morning and we're still working.......... Not all bad, we are making great progress on the unpacking of the biz, but real production needs to get done, too. So here is a view from my desk as I'm working (ok, as I'm taking pictures and NOT working).......... You can't see him, but there is a pressman back there working in that bright lit area.

Some of you may recognize the double-sided tape gun sitting there, on top of a portion of the pocket folders that need to be assembled for Monday morning foiling on Big Heidi. Regular business got way too busy yesterday for me to finish the assembly of these, hence the Saturday work. Not a big deal, tho. You may ask yourself, "Why doesn't she have her staff do these?" Well, I don't because I do them faster than anyone on staff. Not bragging, just truthful, I've done the math. :)
Here sits my computer, tuned into Yahoo! Music Jukebox - ahhhhhh, smooth jazzzzzzzzzz......
Here sits my phone, my list of what I would like to accomplish today, and my most favorite license plate I ever got to have. To be honest, a BMW is not the best winter vehicle, but it was sure fun to own that old girl for awhile! And of course my photo of Tyler in Bill's robe when he was 3 years old and cuter than a bugs ear. Precious.
And here you see my stash of knock-off Jelly Bellies........... shhhhhhh :)

On the knitting front, I started a baby afghan for my neice last night in crochet. I thought it would be a better option to crochet since I'm on a time crunch to get this done. After working on it for an hour and a half, I felt so frustrated with it that it got thrown on the floor to be frogged at a later time. So as usual, at 1 in the morning I woke up and my brain was going wild with ideas, so to the internet I go and into my stash of yarn. (This happens a lot, don't worry) Found the perfect knitted baby blanket pattern (no time to make up my own this time) and absolutely the BEST yarn I could have imagined! Happy I didn't sell it on eBay because it was in line to go. It was a good reminder that babies happen and I still should be prepared for these occassions by keeping my baby yarn stash. So by the time we left for work this morning I think there's a good 5 inches done on the blanket and I'm loving it! It's absolutely going to be perfect and exactly what I want her to have. I will post pix at some point.

Praying for Patience

Praying for Patience

Yesterday was to the extreme.

Demands were high.

Frustration level at its peak.

Praying that God will grant me the patience needed to get through just this ONE day. One day.....

Starting Day #5

The man is obsessed. He left at 6 this morning to keep working on upgrades at the new shop. As I sit here in my robe, enjoying my internet groups and news at 7:30am, it is now time to haul myself out there, spin a cookie or two in the old shop with the van (I can dream, can't I?) and load up as much of Bill's office as I can. He finally admitted this morning he would appreciate me moving his office and computer.

For those of you who don't know the history of 'us' over the past four years, and wonder why I seem obsessed with blogging Bill's activities........ just know this is CELEBRATION blogging. This is singing for joy on my part that no matter what ever happens in our lives now, we have our real Bill back, better than ever, full of life and more motivated than we've ever seen him. Yes, more motivated than even his insurance years! "I feel healthy, I feel happy, I feel terrific!" Season will be thankful I spelled 'terrific' correctly and not how she said it as a 3 year old!

I am grateful for all of your prayers through these last few years. Onward and upward!

I SHALL knit tonight!!!! (Hope there's some L&O-CI on TV)

Four Days.... And Counting

I was thinking you all need an update on finishing up the fourth day of the move. I was able to move 90% of my office in only 2 loads by myself. It was rather cool to just drive into the old shop, back up the van to the office areas, and just LOAD! LOL I could have spun some cookies in there. Now how easy is that!

Anyway, I really wanted to show off all of Bill's hard work over the past few months. As one of our clients says, "Bill, you made a silk purse out of a sow's ear!"

Looking from Lisa's area to front foyer, through my office and to the shop area....
BEFORE

AFTER

(don't look at the empty boxes)
Looking into Lisa's area.....

BEFORE

AFTER
Here is my dismal office area.....

BEFORE

AFTER

....and a view from my regular desk to my data desk.......

And the grand finale is Billy's office! We haven't moved his real stuff in here yet, but look at that old map that was left IN the wall! And he poly'd up all his walls and shelves - it is absolutely gorgeous.

Bill poured a little concrete to fix an area in the shop and he put mirrors up in all the bathrooms and is starting to lay vinyl in the girl's bathroom. We've been at it since 7 this morning, so it's time to call it a day and maybe even............ KNIT???????????? Who knows! Yeeee HAAAAA

Total Three Days Under Our Moving Belt

We have been so blessed........

1. No injuries in the move (to humans anyway)
2. Movers did an excellent job - both crews
3. Telephones only down for 3/4 of a work day
4. Hard working employees who really kicked it up a notch
5. Electricians had everything hooked up and ready by late afternoon today!!! That was a rough one, but they did great.
6. And to top it off, picked up the desktop for home that had to be repaired and they were able to retrieve all of our photos that were stored on it! Yes, I was overwhelmed and had to shed a tear of joy. Quite unexpected. Thank you to the Computer Magician! (also our new biz neighbor)

Tomorrow I will tackle my office, which hasn't been touched. I want to move my own computers, printers and files. I want to move Bill's computer myself also. Maybe Sunday will bring a shopping trip to Best Buy to find a good wireless internet deal so all three of the salesmen can utilize the 'waves'. :) Any suggestions?

All in all, moving is exhausting, but the upgrade in surroundings has been well worth the aches and pains. Onward and upward!

One Day of Move Under Our Belts

With day one finished in the move, I must say that things went pretty good all in all. To move the three heavies and three of the heavy die drawers (I wasn't emptying those, would have been silly) it took right under six hours. The heavy movers were packed up and gone by 7pm. All they need to do is level the big boys this morning and that isn't going to take them very long. Big Heidi got injured tho, but thankfully that's why movers have insurance. Since she's been through WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam War and Desert Storm, she took it pretty well and knew that a welder would have her fixed in no time. She just wants to get back to work! And she loves her new room.

Today another group of movers will take the so called 'lighter' things, and that totals eight pieces. Everyone is busy busy busy, as I should be. So farewell to you all for now - updates to come.

HOLY COW!!!! and YIKES!!!!

I'd forgotten how emotional this gets for me when the actual heavy part of this move happens. It's been over 13 years, I'd forgotten. This is when I feel the tears rearing their ugly head and I have to stifle them. Can't let the troups see emotion, other than excitement. Sometimes it's just not so cool to have female genes. Here's an early afternoon update on our big baby's move - she's a whopping 5,000 pounds of sturdy love. But Big Heidi (Heidelberg) is the one that makes all the products stand out and be noticed and she never ever breaks down.

Bill is standing to the left - observing..........

Bill to left again, still observing..............

Thank goodness for people who specialize in this type of move.

Little Heidi goes today, too. She works hard making things pretty, too. (But not as pretty as her big sister does, but don't tell her that because she doesn't ever break down either.)

The big format one-color goes today, too. He weighs over two ton also and needs special attention from this special crew of men.

A Day in History

Today would have been mom and dad's anniversary.

Married in 1939

Snow Update

It's pretty white around here, but so glad we had just snow and not the horrible tornadoes the south endured. Weather this winter has just been so very odd, for everyone.

Moving updates.... heavy movers have had postponements/cancellations due to weather, so we will be talking to them this morning as they are itching to pay their workers to work, not stand around looking handsome. LOL I understand that theory. So we will keep you updated on whether or not things will speed up around here with the heavy stuff or not. Employees aren't going to be happy, but I'm not here to make them happy or comfortable this week. OOOOOO, did Karen just get bossy there? Moving is never fun, so we just have to make the best of what opportunities this weather may be presenting to us. Bad for some, but may be awesome for our move.

Negotiations have started now for real with my notebooks. Price has been agreed on, colors will be great, and I get to keep my brand on them. Now what could be better than that?

Tuesday SNOW!

Thank goodness the phones are not moving today. Windstream decided that they couldn't have people to do the 'work' till Friday. Which means I can eBay more from HERE, get more cleaned up HERE, have some fun with Shawna working for me HERE today. But just look what we are being blessed with for weather today!

I also have started negotiations with an internet dealer who wants to carry some of my notebook covers. So anxious to get that all started and get progress made.

Manic Monday

After working all weekend, some of it with the help of Shawna, the old bod seems to not be 21 anymore! HA! I have made great progress over at the old shop, while Bill has made leaps and bounds in progress at the new shop. There is still so much to do, AND keep up with production knowing we will be powerless to complete anything during the actual heavy duty move.

I put 3 more notebooks up on Etsy - please check them out. I haven't done any purses lately as it seems to be a winter item and until I can come up with a good summer idea, that will probably hault for now. Still working on getting the bags into retail on the east coast tho. Not giving up on that opportunity! If that comes about, then I'll be back at the bags hard and heavy.

Dear Shawna will be back tomorrow to help move some more, even tho it is her day off at daycare. What a trooper she is. Season works too many jobs the way it is, so I will leave her alone. :) What's up with my daughters anyway? Don't they know what a day OFF means? God bless them both.

Yep, watched the Super Bowl up till after half-time, then I nodded off and missed the rest. Happy I made it through to see Tom Petty though. We really enjoyed his performance!

We have found a great deal on some used desks so I don't have to move the behemoths from here. I'm sure that MADD Dads will appreciate a few extra desks for their operation coming in here. Now all our things will match in every office and with bigger desks, that means I can hide more IN my desk instead of sitting on top of it all the time! HA I will post pix once we get in there and will also post some before photos too, just so you can all see the work and elbow grease that's been put into it all.

Attention All Scrapbookers!!!

All you who want some GREAT DEALS on paper and envelopes for making greeting cards or working and updating your scrapbooks, check out my EBay listings after today. There are some great deals to be had for sure!!!!!!

http://myworld.ebay.com/grandma*p*

Wear Red Today for Women's Heart Disease Awareness

Today, February 1st, is Wear RED Day for Women's Heart Disease Awareness. So all you out there who have known, or know a woman who has suffered from this, JOIN IN!

There is a Yahoo group that knits red for heart disease (yes, I belong) and a Ravelry group for knitting red (yes, I belong to that too). Please check them out!

Quick Updates

1. Haven't started my contest knitting yet....
2. Last day of the month (hate that)...
3. Business move around the corner - next Thursday & Friday
4. Nothing is selling on Etsy at the moment, but will save up and try a craft fair sometime
5. Still colder than ever outside, brrrrrrrrrr
6. Still need to put a TygerLily business plan together for 2 possible retailers (Season, help!)
7. I move when phones move - next Tuesday (Shawna, help!)
8. Have I mentioned I hate moving yet?
9. No home computer yet, patiently waiting
10. But we have SUNSHINE today!
11. Obviously, working this weekend...... any offers?

12. Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday and this............

............should I wear jammies to work?

Hope all is going well for you who drop by to visit.

New Things

This putting things up in my Etsy store at work is a royal pain. Can't wait for the computer to be well again at home.

Just so you all know I don't just sit around and do nothing, check out the Etsy store as I've put 4 more things up this morning. I have more at home that need finishing touches, so check back once in awhile.

Computer Poo

OK, so I go to the laptop upon hauling myself out of bed to check on e-mail and such and the darned thing isn't loading Windows, and not loading Windows, and still not loading........... after 15 gazillion tries, I gave up. So right now there is no working computer in our home which is distressing in a way, but will push me to do other things until we can get the repaired desktop computer back home from the Magician. It's been repaired, just have to find time to pick it up.

Just wanted you all to know the blog may be a little bleak for awhile, but we're still kicking! (and knitting)

New Section Going Into My Etsy Store

Here is the original item I just put up for sale in one of the two new sections I'll be using, besides what is in the store right now. Second section is still a secret (except to one of my sisters) so keep watching the store - you never know what might pop up there!

I saw a picture for something like this in a catalog, trying to sell a pattern BOOK!!!..... but those who know me and my recent months of driven behavior.... know that buying a pattern for something that I should be able to design on my own, would be down right silly. :) So here is the first "Ty Up Your Memories" blank journal with cabled cover (re-usable).... Just a little play on words. :)

Two Projects Completed

Finally got two projects that have been on the needles or getting ripped out (arghhh) completed. Whew!

Now I can start on the design contest - the package of yarn came yesterday and was just sitting on the doorstep just waiting for me to rip into and have some fun.

Top 100 Movies

After Marsha got me to thinking about movies, I found some other gals blogging about the top 100 movies of all time. Not sure where this list is from, but it's pretty interesting. I have highlighted the ones I've seen.......

1. Citizen Kane (1941)
2. The Godfather
3. Casablanca (1942)
4. Raging Bull (1980)
5. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
6. Gone with the Wind (1939)
7. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
8. Schindler’s List (1993)
9. Vertigo (1958)
10. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
11. City Lights (1931)
12. The Searchers (1956)
13. Star Wars (1977)
14. Psycho (1960)
15. Sunset Blvd. (1950)
16. 2001 : A Space Odyssey (1968) - only some of this one.
17. The Graduate (1967)
18. The General (1927)
19. On the Waterfront (1954)
20. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
21. Chinatown (1974)
22. Some Like It Hot (1959)
23. The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
24. E.T. The Extraterrestrial (1982)
25. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
26. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
27. High Noon (1952)
28. All About Eve (1950)
29. Double Indemnity (1944)
30. Apocalypse Now (1979)
31. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
32. The Godfather Part II (1974)
33. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
34. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
35. Annie Hall (1977)
36. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
37. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
38. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
39. Dr. Strangelove (1964)
40. The Sound of Music (1965)
41. King Kong (1933)*
42. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
43. Midnight Cowboy (1969)
44. The Philadelphia Story (1940)
45. Shane (1953)
46. It Happened One Night (1934)
47.A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
48. Rear Window (1954)
49. Intolerance (1916)
50. Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
51. West Side Story (1961)
52. Taxi Driver (1976)
53. Deer Hunter, The (1978)
54. M*A*S*H (1970)
55. North by Northwest (1959)
56. Jaws (1975)
57. Rocky (1976)
58. The Gold Rush (1925)
59. Nashville (1975)
60. Duck Soup (1933)
61. Sullivan’s Travels (1941)
62. American Graffiti (1973)
63. Cabaret (1972)
64. Network (1976)
65. The African Queen (1951)
66. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
67. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
68. Unforgiven (1992)
69. Tootsie (1982)
70. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
71. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
72. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
73. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
74. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
75. In the Heat of the Night (1967) -
76. Forrest Gump (1994)
77. All the President’s Men (1976)
78. Modern Times (1936)
79. The Wild Bunch (1969)
80. The Apartment (1960)
81. Spartacus (1960)
82. Sunrise (1927)
83. Titanic (1997)
84. Easy Rider (1969)
85. A Night at the Opera (1935)
86. Platoon (1986)
87. 12 Angry Men (1957)
88. Bringing Up Baby (1938)
89. The Sixth Sense (1999)
90. Swing Time (1936)
91. Sophie’s Choice (1982)
92. Goodfellas (1990)
93. The French Connection (1971)
94. Pulp Fiction (1994)
95. The Last Picture Show (1971)
96. Do the Right Thing (1989)
97. Blade Runner (1982)*
98. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
99. Toy Story (1995)
100. Ben-Hur (1959)

How did you all do on that list? Time to get some more classics under my belt, huh.

Ouch

After the actual physical work done today at the shop, I feel every one of the years in my body right now. And I think back on times when we didn't have the automation we have now, and I would work like this quite often and it never bothered me one bit. In fact, I loved it! If it weren't for a willing daughter to come and help us all out today, I think I'd be in much worse shape. She was an angel to agree so quickly to come help. Hunter, who is pushing 5 years old, came to the shop with his mom and helped keep all our spirits high - giggles, teasing the shop dog, giving Craig a hard time (Craig eats that up and gives it right back to Hunter), and he was amazingly well behaved for having to be in a boring place for so long! I don't think there is another kid on the planet that would have handled it so well. So even though my feet, knees and back are screaming, the rest of me is so grateful for a staff who kicked it up a notch and especially for a daughter who filled a need in almost a moment's notice.

Song Stuck in My Head

You can't always get what you want

You can't always get what you want

You can't always get what you want

But if you try sometimes you might find

You get what you need

The Rolling Stones - 1968

Why you may ask?

Because I CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT I WANT!

(but I have what I need)

Yarn Change for Design Contest

The yarn color I ordered a few days ago was out of stock, so cancelled that and thought twice about even entering the design contest..... but the creative side won out and I went to Yarnmarket this morning and decided to find a fun color to use and this is what I found.....


We all need a little color in our lives - this will be not only cute but just plain FUN!


(Season - how about that! I picked LIME!)

Ocean Floor by Audio Adrenaline

The mistakes I've made

That caused pain I could have done without

All my selfish thought

All my pride

The things I hide

You have forgot about

They're all behind you

They'll never find you

They're on the ocean floor

Your sins are forgotten

They're on the bottom

Of the ocean floor

My misdeeds

All my greed

All the things that haunt me now

They're not a pretty sight to see

But they're wiped away

By a mighty, mighty wave

A mighty, mighty wave

Your sins are erased

And they are no more

They're out on the ocean floor

Take them away

To return no more

Take them away

To the ocean floor

John 15:1

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 15:1 NIV).



It was one of those mornings when you wake up and not know exactly which day of the week it really is. Took me a good minute to figure out it wasn't Saturday today since I was at the office both days this weekend. It frustrated me that I had to actually work and not be at home doing more productive things those days. Yep, productive in my own eyes, that's the kicker. When reading this verse this morning, which I hope you read too, it made me think...... and I'm still thinking on it.

It's sometimes a good thing to see that setbacks, delays, frustrations, brick walls, etc. may have been placed there for a reason: for us to step back, or re-evaluate, or take a different direction, or to learn, or commit to improving, or to make changes........ All in all, it's a great lesson in seeing there are things to let go of, because they only get in the way of the great stuff that should be going on and that God wants going on!

This is just a little cathartic writing this morning. In the past few months and years I've seen myself turn into someone who has left all the dead branches on and letting them stifle who I think I was meant to be. The glass used to be half full and I've let my view switch to seeing it half empty. (there is more but won't bore you with it all) The point of all this is, my heart has turned bitter and angry. It's time to start doing some whittling. Notice I said start? All this took a long time making it's home here and it will take time and effort getting it under control.

I hadn't read this verse in ages, it was obviously the one I needed to see on this Monday morning.

I'm So Proud of My Seeeestas

Not only is my sister-sister a full time sister, AND sister, a black & white grandma, and a lot of fun, she is very creative to boot! I just had to share a photo she sent to me today showing off a vibrant quilt she made for her granddaughter in Kearney - just today! Now what little girl wouldn't love those colors? Not to mention that Carole got the day off from her duties to do a little creating as we three (related) sistas love to do, gotta be thankful for that. What a happy face she carries on her. Gotta love the SCACOSB!






Now I have to brag on another sister, who is creative, intelligent, too young to be retired to Florida, and an integral part of my support system....... Donna, The Kool-Aid Fuhrer of Butler County! Here is a sampling of some 3-D envelopes she is developing for my knitted greeting cards that only she could have figured out.

Are my seestas the best in the world OR WHAT???

Needed A Little Something Different

I should be at my real work, but after completing 3 things on my home list early I just needed a break from everything normal that I've been working on..... hence the baby bootee. You're right, I have absolutely no use for these, but when I couldn't sleep last night I happened across this adorable pattern and sat it aside to ponder. This took an hour and a half, next one will go faster. Maybe I'll throw these up on Etsy. The thoughts and memories I had when doing this bootee this morning were of the best kind.

Just a Little Saturday Beauty

This photo caught my eye as I logged into iGoogle this morning. I have a tab on there that will throw wonderful photography up at random to look at and this is what greeted me. The colors in it were just too beautiful not to share............ Happy Saturday everyone!

A Sneak, WiP & Frog

My life in a nutshell: wips, frogs and peeks. ( I mispelled peek in my photo as that certainly doesn't look like a mountain)

Decided to enter a design contest.....

Through the local Knitting Guild I belong to, yet never seem to get to attend, I found out about a design contest offered by a Canadian yarn company, Needful Yarns. Found the perfect yarn for a design out of Buffalo, NY (too bad not here or in Omaha) and hopefully will be able to get this started by the end of the month. This will entail actual written directions with finished product. YIKES! And due by March, 2008. You who know me well, know that writing real instructions will be the hardest part. I'd rather just work the design. Anyway, here is a pic of the color ordered....


Pretty cool, huh????

"Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow

is ours to win or to lose." - Lyndon B. Johnson

Prayer Requests

Manic Monday - If you stop by, would you be so kind as to lift up a small prayer for us for the next few days?

1. Major press down - farming out product which is now critically late, that customers will be as understanding as possible as we work through this for them.
2. Shipment held up once again for materials we needed last week for major catalog, will be past deadline now.
3. Employees attitudes - that they will stay positive through this trying down time which is out of our control.
4. For one of our employees who is going through major personal strife, and that she will find solid answers. We hate to see her so distraught.
5. For a wonderful employee who wants to work part time, even though he is leaving to drive a truck the 15th. Many blessings on him and his family.
6. For Bill's active participation on company decisions once again. He does not know how truly missed his abilities have been to us all.

I know this is a lot to ask for, but if you can, please pray. Thank you.

Bye Bye Fork in the Road

The "Fork" is going on the road to a new owner tomorrow! Hope this guy behaves when travelling. :)

I SO Stole This Pic

Christmas with the kids and grandkids at their house this year........Me, Abby, Hunter, Bill

And yes, I stole this off our daughter's blog. SO glad to have this picture. Click on the link to the left to see some more of their adventures and fun.

And Donna, thank you for the great sweater set - I LOVE it.

My Version of Int'l Pajama Day

After reading a few other gal's blogs, this must be Int'l Pajama Day and I tried to do it, but figured I'd be more productive if I actually wore every day clothing. So here is my tribute to Pajama Day, a la TygerLily style.........

Enjoy your day!

Make a free ecard - it's easy!

WWCS Swap Package

THANK YOU, MARY H.!!!!
Look what came to my door on New Year's Eve? And LOOK at all the wonderful goodies that were jam packed in there all from Mary H. in Massachusetts, my Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap secret pal. The yarn is simply luscious and I can't stop touching it, or maybe you can tell because it's all still sitting on the dining room table for me to feel every time I walk by. :) Chocolate, four (YES FOUR) packs of coffees, mug, covered spoons, note cards, circular needles.... and to top of the gift was a great bag of treats for the pups! (shhh... I haven't told them yet)
I could never have anticipated such a wonderful package of surprises!
Thank you, Mary!

Updates.....

Blueberry Bobble Handbag......
Charm Links Cable Shoulder Bag......
A heart card......
The beginnings of a smaller line of bags I hope to do. Beads and a chain handle will spruce this one up at a later date.