Day off from work

I took today off of work and this is what has happened so far:
So this past week or so I received two swaps from the Bead Trade Off from Swap-bot. Here they are side by side, on the left I'm calling #1 and on the right is #2.



And here's the contents of #1:


And here's the contents of #2:


So, since I was all into my bead stash and all I figured I'd work on these stitch markers! I've been trying to make some that don't have any sort of catchy pieces to get caught on yarn. I'm not sure if I've achieved this yet, but I'm close for sure. Check it out:

What do you think? Here's a shot in the sun so you can see the sparkliness of them :)

Last but not least, I started making an overnight bag last weekend and finished it up today. I loooove the way it turned out. I do have another overnight bag but was sort of in the mood for something more colorful, what else is new? So here it is:

I put a bag of stuffing in it so I could get an idea of the shape and how much it will hold:

The lining is the same fabric as the straps. I'm thinking it will hold a lot, which will be convenient. Soooo, why do I need a new overnight bag you ask? For the Rock and Worship Road Show next weekend in Portland!!!!!!! So excited. Went last year and it was a blast. It's $10 but first come first serve. Last year we got there at 7 AM (!) and waited allll day until the doors opened at like 4:30. But, we got first row seats! It was awesome! The line-up this year is going to be really cool -I'm totally looking forward to the David Crowder Band!

Beads and stuff

So, the other night - I think Tuesday night - I came home and this --->

is what my dining room table looked like! Truckie asleep on top of my projects! I know, I know - I shouldn't even have my crafts dominating the dining room table, but honestly I think it's been a loooooong time since we've used it for it's original purpose. So he was very unhappy with me moving him, but I had to so I could take the pictures! LOL

I found this little runner sort of thing that's embroidered with the lovely lady at Goodwill - of course! Since there are only like 2 thrift stores it's slim pickins. And I'm sure I overpaid for it - it was $2. But so pretty I had to have it. Geez, I'm a sucker!

I put the bracelets on top of the runner thing so you could see the colors. I'm happy with the way they all turned out. The red one was the one I made for Jan, she loved it as well. The yellow/brown one was inspired from the leaf charms, the two bigger leaf charms. They were actually a pair of earrings that broke and I stuck them in my q-tip jar in the bathroom like 8 years ago because I didn't want to throw them away! I took a second look at them and was like "those are perfect charms!" Must have a Fall theme bracelet! - and voila! Now, I have so many ideas! So, I'm thinking I HAVE to have a Christmas themed one, and Joann's has these cute clover shaped charms so I have to do a "lucky charms" theme! Get it, lucky charms like the cereal! LOL and also for St Patty's day. I know, I'm a nerd.

The only problem so far is the gold toned one is a softer metal I think. I have to either pony up for the more expensive stuff that is tougher, or think of a way to reinforce the links.....hmmm.

Oh! And there are the blocks that I found at the Keepers Corner - it's like this big store that people have booths at and a lot of it is antiques but some handmade things, a mish mash really. I'm sure I overpaid for those as well. They were in this little wooden basket that had two price tags. One was for the basket and said "vintage wooden fruit basket $2.95" and the other said "basket with blocks $5.95". So I told the lady I didn't want the basket and I figured that she would charge me half. I was wrong. I was charged $5.95. But in the past when I haven't bought something I wanted it was gone the next time I went in. I really wanted to ask her not to charge me the full price but then I didn't want to be too chintzy. You know? When I got home I spelled out "Give Thanks" and put the blocks on the bathroom windowsill next to my wooden turkey figurine I got in Bandon a couple years ago. Love it ;)

Today was the absolute longest day in the WORLD! Seriously. There was a work meeting at 7am. And I work until 5:30. So for real, this afternoon I was feeling like a cat in a paper bag. It was also super busy and contrary to the standard busy day goes by fast rule it didn't. Neverending. I should look on the bright side - at least I'm not still there. I feel so cut off from my life at this job. I'm almost thinking I need a cell phone just so at lunch I can go out to my car and call my fricken husband in private! I mean, I've tried to call from the break room on lunch, but there's always people around and that's awkward. So, the whole day I don't talk to him...it's just weird.

I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving. Which reminds me I need to list what I'm thankful for:

God

My husband

Tights that are long enough

New cute pointy toed shoes that are comfy to walk in :)

It's almost weekend time!

Books to read

I know how to read

Gainful employment

Mish-mash of thoughts

So, just so you all know, it snowed ALL day yesterday........all day. But, that didn't stop me from going to the bead store at lunch or Joann's after work. Oh no. I LOVE my charm bracelet that I fanagled on Sunday...and must make more! I showed it to Jan and she was like "when are you making me one?" So, really I have to make another one, and she wanted a red one. I know, I know - no pics! I left my camera in the truck and even though I walk by it twice a day I never remember to stop and open it up and grab my camera. Maybe tonight will be the night?

I'm not going to get into my views or beliefs about the election results. I know that some people are excited and some people are upset and what I think doesn't really matter now. I voted and did my part so now what I'm doing is praying. I've been praying for safety for the president-elect and his family. I'm praying for unity for our country. I think it's important to intercede for others, and this prayer from the LPM blog says it perfectly!
In other news, I miss my friends that I talked to everyday, emailed everyday, looked at their sweet faces everyday! I feel like I have been sent to Siberia. Literally. I'm thankful to have a job to go to, but it's rough not knowing these people. And knowing that they don't know me, and don't really fully appreciate my quirks yet. And honestly I don't know if they ever will.
So, also I rented "Kitt Kittredge" the other night, it's the movie that takes one of the American Doll characters and tells their story. I thought it was very cute, although a little downtrodden for a children's story. Of course, her character lives in the Depression, so of course it's downtrodden. But, I have to say that when I was a kid I didn't really want to be worrying about whether my parents had jobs and that type of thing. And I'll just say that I didn't live a charmed life, I was raised by a single mom and we didn't have a car until I was in high school. But, somehow my mom sheltered me from a lot of stuff, or I was oblivious. I also have to say that I loved her hair and the color of it. I think it would definitely be too light for me, but I loved it.

Speaking of beads....

So, I was loitering in Joann's, just perusing the aisles....and decided I need to start beading! Oh, yeah. Like I need to start a new project! So, I bought one of the started kits and went home to try my hand at it. What I've found out from previous forays into beading is that I don't know what I'm doing. So, this time I read up a little. I always figure things out from books it seems, and thank goodness I've stumbled into blog-land to see what other ppl are up to! Anways, I'm very excited and glad to have the distraction from my job woes. I had some pink glass beads that I had bought probably 5 years ago because they were on clearance for like .25 cents, and geez I just had to have them! Good thing though, because they are making super cute little charm bead things. I'll post a pic when I'm done, but I'm working on a charm bracelet. It's fun to put different sizes and shapes together - there are so many variations! Love it!