Thank you!

Many thanks to Michelle and Heather who have passed this award on to me!  Michelle is an amazing sewist who makes beautifully crafted garments, and whose personal style I LOVE.  Heather impresses me with how well she juggles the many balls she has in the air, and she makes her own lingerie!  She even makes bras for others!!  And they are gorgeous!

For this meme, I am supposed to tell you 10 things about myself that you are unlikely to know, and then pass it on to 5 other bloggers.
I'm not very introspective (does that count as one??) so I'm not very creative when it comes to this sort of thing, but I'll give it a go.  I've really been enjoying the responses from the other bloggers out there, so I hope I can make this interesting...
1) I love to dress in clothing for all sorts of days past, but I'm not very trendy and never seem to like whatever era we are in.  I also tend to go a bit overboard, complete with period inspired hair, makeup, underpinnings and the like.  It can get a bit costume-y, but it's me.  (Today I'm regency, with an empire waist, ankle length dress, soft pink makeup and hair up in a twisty bun with curls.)  The exception is shoes.  I wear stilettos.
2) I've been kissed by a crowned prince.
3) When I was 7 years old, I decided I wanted to be a doctor, specifically a surgeon, which plan I stuck to until my third year of medical school, when I realized that I was much happier surrounded by kids.  I changed my focus to Pediatrics, which was perfect for me.  Once I finished my training I retired so that I could surround myself with my own kids.  They make me happy.
4) I worked my way through college working retail; selling shoes and lingerie. Before medical school, I was a Bra Specialist at Victoria's Secret.
5) I like watching my kids movies, particularly Veggie Tales and Disney/Pixar.  In fact, we had an impressive collection before we even had children.
6) Since I waited to have children until after my training, I am generally the "old lady" at playgroups and kid stuff.  In fact, my mother had already had all of her children when she was the age I was when I had my first.
7) I hate being a patient in a hospital, and will do anything - including hassle interns for discharge papers - in order to get out as soon as possible.  I'm sure I'm a ridiculously annoying patient.
8) I love to sing (although I am not all that good at it) and sing in my church choir, but my son has recently taken objection to this little habit of mine and gets mad any time I try to sing around the house.  Am I really that bad??  He lets Myra sing!
9) I was a princess for Halloween for most of my childhood and into my early teens.  I still like to "dress up" (see #1), but since I'm too old to pretend to be Cinderella, I go to Renaissance Faires, where dressing as a princess is OK.
10) My hubby and I share a deep and abiding love for books.  We really love to buy them, although reading from the library is an OK second best.  We also have a very hard time getting rid of books, regardless of how old and useless they may be.  Case in point, we still have college textbooks for classes that we didn't even take.  Because of this, we are constantly buying new bookcases.

Next I am supposed to tag 5 bloggers to pass this award on to, but I always hate this step.  I read a LOT of blogs and I love them all, so choosing only 5 is nearly impossible, besides not everyone likes to get these things, so here it is - I pick... YOU!  If you are reading this and blogging along with me, then consider yourself beautiful and please play along, if you are so inclined.  And leave me a comment, so I can be sure to check out your answers!

Sunshine Award

Thank you Julia for this award!!  My sewing room has been so crazy lately that I haven't had a chance to acknowledge her.

If you haven't visited Julia's blog, you should.  She is a wonderful person and an amazing sewist.  She makes beautiful heirloom clothing that you just have to see to believe.  This year one of her granddaughters dresses has the most amazing bodice made of woven ribbons.  Wow!  She does beautiful smocking and has recently been doing some fun things with wool felting.  She is also a fun writer and puts her personality into her blog posts.  They are always fun to read.  I am very grateful for her and for the chance that we have had to become friends through this sewing/blogging community of ours.

For this award I am supposed to chose 12 other bloggers for this award, but I'm not going to.  There are just too many of you out there that inspire me, and I just can't pick out 12 to single out.  I am so grateful for this sewing community that we have out here in blogland.  I've learned so much from the ladies and gentlemen out there who sew and share.

Kreativ Blogger Award!

I'm so pleased to receive this award from 2 talented bloggers!  Peachy and Kathryn nominated me for it.  Thank you, both!!

In my acceptance speech, I am supposed to tell you 7 otherwise unknown facts about myself and nominate 7 bloggers for the award.

About Me:
1. When I was in between college and medical school I worked as a "Bra Specialist" at Victoria's Secret.
2. I've never been to Disney Land or Disney World.
3. I don't have a favorite movie, TV show or book - mostly because I can't decide which one is my favorite.
4. Same for food - no favorite - too many to love!
5. When I was a kid, my brother and I would play together with his ThunderCats action figures and my Barbies.
6. I don't think I've ever gone more than a year without a cat in my life.
7. I've been suffering from some serious sewing ADD lately and can't seem to sew what I've planned.

For my seven bloggers, I'm going to try to spread the love a bit, so I'm not going to re-nominate those who I awarded the Honest Scrap to, or those who have already received this award.  Here they are:
1. Jess from Rose of All Trades.  Jess is an actual IRL friend who has returned to crafting after a hiatus of several years. She has a sweet boy who gets much of her sewing attention.  She just started her blog, so pop over and welcome her to our community!
2. Karen from Sewing by the Seat of My Pants.  She just made a seriously amazing costume out of some seriously yucky poly satin she was provided, but totally saved it and it ended up amazing.
3. Linda T from Seams Well.  She sews; she knits, and she's a fellow Central Texan!
4. Lynn from Living La Vida Loca.  An amazing seamstress who is also a doctor.  You know I love that!!

OK, since I went over by three blogs on my last award, I'm stopping there.

Honest Scrap!

Julia awarded me this!  Thank you so much!  If you haven't been to her blog, please go.  She is a lovely, straightforward lady, who sews the most beautiful heirloom clothing for her grandchildren.

Scrap means left over, fragments, discarded material. Many times truth and honesty are discarded material, considered fragments and left over. People like us need to tell it like it is, and let the scraps fall where they will.

Here are the rules:
1. Thank the person who gave the award and list their blog and link it.

2. Share "10 Honest Things" about yourself.

3. Present this award to 7 others whose blogs you find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged you.

4. Tell those 7 people they've been awarded Honest Scrap and inform them of these guidelines in receiving the award.


So, my 10 honest things...
1) I am not at all introspective, so this is hard for me.
2) I don't like disorder, but sometimes am too lazy to deal with my own.
3) I am a total control freak.
4) Sometimes I cut corners when I want to hurry and get a project done.  I always regret it, but still find myself doing it the next time.
5) My sewing closet is an unbelievable mess.
6) My family and my relationship with God are the most important things in my life.
7) Sometimes I forget #6 when things get crazy, and that makes life even harder than it needs to be.
8) Although I've made many poor choices in my life, they've made me who I am.  I'm not sure I'd change them.
9) If you ask me what my favorite...(color, food, whatever) is, I'll probably have a response, but it will surely change soon.  Does that mean I'm fickle, or just don't know myself?
10) Actually, my favorite color is green.


And the 7 bloggers that I am nominating:
1) Pam of Pippi Creates.  She makes all sorts of cute things for herself and her family.  She always makes a design hers with fun embellishments.
2) Beangirl.  She sews up the cutest kids clothes aver and does some awesome refashions.  I can always count on her for good advice!
3) Aphie from Botticelli Babe. The crafty Aussie does it all!  She sews, quilts, cooks - heck, she even made her own deodorant!
4) Digs from StraightJacket Muse.  She gives us the inside scoop on her beautifully crafted coats and jackets.
5) Pammie from Pammi and the P's.  Just for Elvis!  Seriously, her Halloween costumes were a hoot, but she sews beautiful clothing as well.
6) Myra from Adventures in Baby sewing.  She makes beautiful things for herself and her kids.  Her applique work is lovely,  and she gives us a littler glimpse into her life.
7) Varina from Varina's Costume Shop and Haberdashery.  So, this is a little bit of nepotism, since Rina is my sister, but her blog is a fun mix of vintage sewing, knitting, cooking, and her own wry wit.
8) Sarah of SarahbelleSews.  She taught me everything I know.


OK, I know, that was 8, but how was I supposed to just choose seven blogs that I love???  Have you seen my sidebar???  Seriously, if you are on my sidebar, then I find you inspirational and stalk your blog relentlessly.


Thanks again, Julia!  And thanks to all of you who read my ramblings.