DAY 2 - PLANNING MY TRIP

Hello again! Thank you from the bottom of my heart to those who commented yesterday. I'm not sure how to comment you back individually but will try to figure it out today. You are so sweet! There is so much to figure out! I'm going to be selling everything but more about that later. Sadly, the world in general does not lust after quilter's UFO's. Yes, a stack of half of the blocks for a project don't excite most people. It's like I'm doing my own estate sale! I was hoping to leave that job to my children-haha. They are all mad at me BTW. I thought maybe they would be worried but they were all furious. More about that later too. 



My car is 11 years old (yikes) but it only has 25,500 miles on it. Can you believe that's all I drive-to Walmart and back-lol. So I figure my car should be okay. It doesn't need tires or anything but I will get it all checked out before I leave (assuming I can sell my stuff and get some money for the road).

I had to figure out what I would do about Blossom. I've been working on that but more on that later too. Right now, I'm working on my list of stuff to take in the car. It's a Camry so it can't be too much. I have a blog friend who took an extended car trip (with children no less) and she left a link in her comment on yesterday's blog post about her preparations. I can't wait to see! My biggest concern is my elderly bladder! I get up 3 to 5 times a night! That is something I have to get figured out for sure.

Well, off to get something done. I am feeling the pressure to go south before the snow. The phrase "Winter is Coming" has a whole new meaning for me now. Love you guys so much!


XO and Cheery Wave from Bev!



SHARING MY NEW LIFE WITH YOU!

Hello everyone! I'm back and I have lots of news! I've had lots of changes in my life and I decided to share them with you! You have been my friends for years now online and some of us have even met in real life. I care about you all! So here goes.

I have reached the point where I cannot get by on the money I get from Social Security. It has been so hard to try to stretch the meager amount I get to last all month. When I lost my job, I started supplementing my income with the little online fabric store I had. Well, that quickly dried up because I didn't have more money to put back into the shop. Some months I have less than $100 after utilities and rent for groceries all month (that's if I buy my prescriptions). So, I've decided to just live in my car! That will give me the extra money from utilities, rent, etc. to live on. I found a variety of blogs by people who are living in their vehicles. Instead of RVing they call it CAR-Ving. There are a surprising number of women my age (old) with their dogs! Some of them have really fancy rigs but some just live in their car so there's lots of information out there. They go south in the winter and north in the summer.

It's been a hard decision to make but I've done a lot of research and I think I can do it. I'm going to use my blog like a diary. I don't know if anyone will be interested but I will have a record of how this part of my life is going and my friends can keep up with where I am. Yes, I'm taking Blossom. We've been leading a sedentary life so she will get more exercise and see some of the country. I decided that I can either barely get by or I can take off and have my last great adventure. Until I leave the house for good, I'll write about my preparations for the road. Wish me luck!


XO and Cheery Wave from Bev

I'm Still Around! Just not on Blogger!

Hi everyone! I guess I should explain better what I've been up to! My blog has moved to Word Press. If I had to figure out how to do that, I would have but Gina did all the work for me. Gina and I have put out a pattern together based on her painting and art work.

Just to explain what this is...We have a large quilt pattern called Happy Garden we are working on with 16 new quilt blocks designed by Gina. The Garden Wheel block is only one of the patterns from the large quilt. We will have a variety of projects from each block that people can buy or they can buy the large quilt pattern with all the templates. These will be listed on our Craftsy shop and on Etsy. We are also working on a free download of an applique tutorial. These blocks look hard but are very easy and an experienced beginner can do them. We have color illustrations and photos like this one:

It's actually one of my favorite photos because it shows that you don't have to worry about matching all those seams in the middle because there will be a flower appliqued over it-lol! We also have a Facebook page that is private for those who have bought the pattern. You can find the pattern and some free ones on the Craftsy pattern shop for Blossom and Bev HERE. So I hope you will come follow my new website and blog HERE. We will be putting up some great giveaways on the new blog in the next couple of weeks so be sure and follow! Cheery wave from Bev

My New Blog is Live! Please Follow!

 Well, finally, my new blog is live! I have a website and a blog! I'm not sure what all I'm going to do now that I'm out of the fabric business but I am designing some quilt patterns and working on some patterns with my daughter, Gina! I'm doing some free tutorials on the blog and you can download the patterns from Craftsy! Please visit the new blog at:

http://blossomandbev.com

I don't want to lose track of any of my blogging friends! Please follow me on WordPress, Facebook and on the website!

My Blog is Moving!

First, let me say hello and Happy New Year to the few remaining followers who are still checking my blog. I know that everyone must think I have run off with the really cute UPS guy. Well, no. Actually, my very talented daughter, Gina, who is a web designer, graphic artist and marketing guru, is "re-branding" me. I have had so many changes in my life in such a short time that I can't begin to go into them right now. My re-branding includes a new name, a website and a new blog! I'm moving to WordPress and my new website name is:  Blossom and Bev. Here is the new logo that Gina has created for me!

 

Pretty cute, right? I'm not going to be selling fabric anymore but will be designing patterns and having quilt alongs and more. Gina and I are designing some patterns together too. Well, she's designing and I'm writing them up and making them. I'm really looking forward to this new chapter in my life! But first, I have to go into my Blogger and do some work so that the blog content can be transferred. I'm so lucky to have Gina handle this because she does this for a living for other people but isn't charging her mom. I'm also finishing some projects I've been working on (yes, Judy--I'm almost finished). I've really missed blogging and seeing what you are all doing and can't wait to get back to it! All of these new things in my life are not what I had planned or expected but I believe that God knows what He is doing so I'm rolling with it! Blossom is doing great and I have to say that she is one of the cutest, sweetest, smartest dogs who ever lived-seriously! I hope you will come and visit the new blog! You can find it at:  blossomandbev.com 

Can't wait to see you again! XO and Cheery Wave from Bev

I'm Moving Saturday! Probably....

Hi everyone! I think I'm actually moving on Saturday! My house and how I got it is an incredible story and as soon as I move, I'll be posting photos and the story of this house! In the mean time, a new blog reader, Dianne, asked me about Jo James of Cart Before the Horse and that led me to Jo's blog to refer my new reader. While I was there, I saw this tutorial!

Isn't this an adorable holiday village? Fabric covered houses! The free tutorial and pattern for making them is HERE. Be careful though...you might just spend hours on this website! Think of me this week while I'm SLOWLY packing to move! Oh, and special thanks to my friend, Annette, for helping me pack today! Anyone in the Oklahoma City area is welcome to come over and help (think a lot of people will be calling me-lol)! XO and cheery wave from Bev

Moving and Selling Stuff

Good morning! I'm getting ready to move and am selling stuff to raise money. Boy is it expensive for someone living on Social Security! Whoa! So I'm selling some unfinished blocks that I've put into photo collages so you can see how they look together. First are unfinished blocks from the Farm Girl Fridays QAL. They are 12.5" unfinished.

They are NOT sewn together. These blocks are $7 each. Here are some 6.5" blocks that finish to 6":

These blocks are $5 each.

There are 12 of these blocks. They are the Flower Box design. Another Lori Holt QAL. These blocks are 10.5" unfinished and are $5. each. Next I'm selling a yellow and red 24" x 24" Swoon block:

This yellow and red block with bee hive block in the middle is $10. Next is my Swoon Village block:

This block is $25. You will pay the postage on all the blocks. If you are interested in any of these blocks, email me at bev@44thstreetfabric.com and tell me which ones you want and leave your PayPal address. I'll send you a PayPal invoice. Thanks you guys. I'll send photos of my new abode when I'm settled in! XO and cheery wave from Bev

It's Friday! Look at this adorable Christmas line!

Hi everyone! It's Friday! I'm moving in about 2 weeks. No date certain but I'm seriously starting to pack. I know everyone has moved but who has downsized? I need to cull out things and be merciless but it's so hard. Do I have a garage sale? Do I just give things away? Do I take them with me and put them in storage? The decisions...uggg. My new house is going to have a room just for the fabric! It has an ouitside door so Jen and I can have people come by the shop and pet the fabric with us! That will be so much fun! We are still getting things in at the shop. Has anyone made the quilt from this Jen Kingwell book?

Customers keep asking me if it is hard and I really don't know. I've seen a lot of these on the internet. If you've made one or are working on one, will you let me know if it is for experienced quilters only? Could a "newish" quilter do it? We are getting the cutest line of fabric in next week! It's Winter Wonderland by Heather Rosas. Look how cute:

There are more patterns in the line but I'm not going to put them all on here. I can't help myself--I love the little animals! Well, I'm off to cut and ship fabric. Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend! And, would you visit our Facebook page and follow us HERE? I'm trying to get it going and will soon be having giveaways to encourage people to follow so don't miss out! XO and cheery wave from Bev

Had to Show You a Photo!

Good morning! I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off (where did that saying come from...creepy but my grandmother used to say it all the time). Anyway, see that little red dot in the photo of the giant cliff? That's my 6 year old Grandchild! She went to camp with her dad and that is one of the activities! When I went to Brownie camp, they wouldn't even let us close to the fire, much less climb a cliff!

She shot a bow and arrow and rode a horse. Her horse looks like it couldn't run away with her if it wanted. I can take those activities but the cliff climbing got me!

We have a lot of new patterns in at the Etsy shop! Jen Kingwell, Kate Spain and more! The new fabric lines we've ordered for spring are to die for! We are doing presales for them right now.  Well, I have to get to work! Hope everyone has a nice day! XO and cheery wave from Bev

I'm Back!

Hello everyone! Hope you are all doing well! Thanks to everyone who wrote to me asking why it seemed like I fell off the planet! Lots has gone on for me--too much to talk about in one blog post. I'll eventually tell you all, just like I always do. The biggest news is that I'm moving! To Claremore, Oklahoma. I never, in my wildest dreams, ever thought I would live in Claremore. I've never even been there! The shop and I will be close to Jen, my shop partner. She lives about 15 minutes away from where I'm moving. That being said...boy do I have a lot of stuff. That's really putting it mildly. I have soooo much fabric that I've hauled from house to house but now I have all the fabrics that are in the shop too! I'll be selling some of that fabric for very little plus shipping so watch for that if you need some. I just did a tutorial for this block:

It is my month to be the Queen Bee for Stash Bee. If you would like to see the tutorial, click HERE. I did pictures and everything--lol. We got layer cakes of Sugar Flower fabric by Leicen in at the shop and I had to use it. The colors are so gorgeous. Of course, you know that my camera takes very poor quality photos so don't just go by this photo. 

Miss Blossom is settling in just fine. She is still having skin issues and the vet just put her on another round of steroids and antibiotics and medicated baths. I am praying that this is just the last effects of the mange and that she will get better. She seems very relaxed and happy as you can see. This is how she spends most of her day.

Jen and Lee are going to help me move so Jen and I put everything in the shop on sale so we don't have to move as much. You should really check it out! You can see it at the shop HERE. My friend, Annette, is coming over tomorrow to help me do some packing. Thank goodness for friends! I am freaking out about what to do with everything. I know it will all get done...it always does...but I still get all stressed. Wish I wasn't that way. Hope you are all enjoying nice fall weather and having lots of time to sew (unlike me). Love you guys! XO and stressed but cheery wave from Bev