2010 Endings

This year has brought many changes to my life and the loved ones around me.  As I said last December..."It will be interesting to see what God has in store for me in 2010".  I now look at 2011 and think the same thoughts.  He has brought many changes, good and what I thought bad.  Once again I learn that for every door that is closed, (or what I thought was a dead end) comes an open door which is much better and unimaginable!

My friends and family have too suffered many trials throughout 2010.  From the death of parents and family, to the loss of careers.  God has carried us all through the hard times and will continue to bless us with open doors.

Starting the New Year of 2011 I see many blessings in my short range of sight!

1.  On or around May 2nd I will become a "GLAMMA" to a little baby girl!  So excited!
2.  Employment with Service Noodle as it reaches for National status.  Me being in on the start up!
3.  Major life changes that I will post on a later date.
4.  I will be blogging more this year!  I am sick when I look at my last posting date!
5.  I plan to research and find recipes to try that are from my German heritage.  I so want a German Christmas tree next year too!  Here is a picture of the Man who started it all....

Meet my Dad!  Robert James Stieb who is 100% German.  I don't know if we look alike or not.  What do you think?

May you all have a wonderful celebration of the New Year to come.  Most of all....be safe and sweet!

Flip that Chair!

 In the beginning...there was a lonely chair that lived in a house where it was lonely, outcast and felt no love

As many of my friends know, I was laid off from my job of eight years at Edy's Ice Cream.  To supplement my income and to keep my mind busy the past five months I have been training/working under the leadership of my Mom, Mary, in learning how to work the trade of upholstery.  I have developed a passion for "flipping" the old, unwanted chairs and furniture into a beauty that one loves again.  I have many favorite tools and "foo-foo" items that make the process easier and add that special touch in the end.  My love for nail heads is very popular these days.  They come in all different colors, finishes and shapes.  The two below are the most popular with customers.  I would estimate that 50% of the work we put out has some type of nail heads on them.  We buy by larger quantities because of cost and each piece takes way more than you could ever afford to buy at the fabric stores.  Someday...I will count them as I install them!





In the end...........
The ugly duckling became a beautiful much admired, wanted and loved piece of the family!

My passion for yo-yo's continues!

Anyone who knows me at all knows of my passion for yo-yo's.  I am continuously searching for new templates from Clover to make them with.  I can make them from just circles and thread but find that I can use the templates when I want to do something mindless while I visit with friends or when I am on a road trip and can be more accurate.

The Clover small green template is the latest addition to my addiction.  It makes the cutest little yo-yo's to put on cards, headbands, in a cluster of different sizes on apparel or just about anywhere you would want to add a little splash of color.  These templates are becoming so popular that they are hard to catch in stock in the stores locally.  I found mine at the link below.  Happy yo-yo'ing to you!

Last of Graduation Celebrating

Well after graduation we finally had a date in common with everyone so that we could celebrate Nikki's graduation. We had aunts and uncles and cousins over for a hamburger cookout feast. Banners were handcrafted by Clarissa complete with yo-yo's and TLC.

Nikki's gift from big sister Clarissa and Piper was a coffee maker for her dorm room. It came complete with two coordinating coffee mugs, a frother and the coffee make itself was white and orange to match her colors.

These two pester each other relentlessly when they are together and have done so ever since the day they met eight years ago. Dustin actually gives the smile that shows how he really feels about his step-sis Nikki....proud of her and what a good gal she is to him.

This gift from me was a project that I had worked on since last November's scrap at the lake with my scrappy friends. It was a book of all the plays that Nikki had been since she began in eighth grade. It was really fun to see her look at every page in detail.

Nikki's cake that Clarissa designed and her friend Anna, who works with her at Beth's Bake Shop, decorated. We loved it because it says, "Nikki is Wicked Awesome!" We are taking a girl's trip to St. Louis to see our favorite musical very soon...all 12 of us (sorry Allen, 11 gals and one dude!)

After all these years and she still claims me as one of her Mommas. Watching her graduate was such a thrill and now she will be on her own soon. She is holding her bedspread and pillow sham that I made from the fabric she chose at Urban Outfitters online. Little birdies, their cages and lots of orange. I just took the panel of fabric and cut it to size, selected a coordinating fabric from JoAnn's for the backing and off to the machine quilter that I use in my area. When I got it back I bound it with orange/white polka dot fabric and made a pillow sham to match. I can't wait to see it in her dorm!

I love the conversations that we have now that she is a young woman making decisions on how she would like to see her life unfold. The most recent saying is WWPD....What would Paula do? We have been talking a lot about situations that she might get into dating in college, what to look for in a future mate and what God fearing men look for in a mate. I now pray for her as an adult child instead of a teenager!

Nikki Graduates High School

Grandma Lack and Nikki after graduation. They are to be future Sweet Adelines together real soon. Nikki and her friend Hannah are thinking about joining the group to keep their voices in tune.
Clarissa, Nikki and cousin Samantha are all such beauties. They had so much fun hanging together at family functions.
Nikki gives her Senior speech at graduation. Five students were selected from the students who tried out to give a three minute speech and she was one of them that made the cut.
Nikki without her robe looks like a superhero here. The thumbs up is a sign of "check-done".
Paula Mom and Nikki get a shot together. Watching her the past eight years pass through the grade levels to graduate has been a great journey. I have never had a step-daughter before but she pretty much has been the best and I count her as my own daughter! I can't wait to see what God has for her future. Off to MSU in the fall to pursue a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Theatre.

The great outdoors!

Clarissa and Nikki enjoying the sun after taking a spin over the country roads and river valleys.
All that was left is the watering after all is planted. Note the long wood firebox that Dustin installed over the past few weeks. Him and Katy will be toasty warm in their home this winter with lower electric bills.
Dustin supervised the planting. No, kidding aside, he tilled the garden, added fertilizer, tilled again, fetched us rakes and then supervised! He is just a busy bee worker just like his Momma.
Katy plugs in the garlic and onions. We planted the starts that she grew from seed and threw down some radish and green bean seeds. Her garden will be the perfect sides to go with that famous beef from their cattle. Yummy dinner time and yes, I will be there for that too!
Clarissa, Nikki and buckets walk to get the T-Rex from the barn to ride and let the "dust" run through their hair.

It was the most pleasant afternoon that I have had in the new Spring. Dustin and Katy live on a hill of 50 acres with the most scenic view of trees and the river. Their winding drive will soon be like driving through a tunnel of leaved out oak trees. Next weekend...we are staining the deck, cleaning out the oldest cellar built with rocks ages ago, burning the bonfire and going to their church in the country the next morning. Praying for clear and sunny weather.

Camp Scrap

Camp Scrap at Second Baptist is a bi-annual event that is a great ministry for me and my friends to serve at since scrapping is ONE of our common bonds that tie us together. Great relationships have been created throughout the 5 1/2 years of Camp Scrap. (We miss you Becky, come back to us!) Here is Lexi, Suz, Julie, Barb and me as we make sure and get a photo together before the craziness begins. I love these ladies! They are great friends and have touched my life with their love and support.
Julie and I get some Burt's Bee action before our picture of the gals. You know you are great friends when you can share a tube of lip gloss between each other. :)

Our night began officially at 5:45 but some of us were there all day (Julie) and a couple of us came at 4:00 (Lexi and me) to cut up fruit for trays and set up for the make-n-takes that we were responsible for. We had over 250 women in attendance...a sell out crowd in only a few days.

This ministry is truly a blessing for those who attend and for those of use who get to serve.

Easter Saturday

My Mother's side of the family celebrated together on Saturday with a meal, volleyball and then we watched my nephew play his last game of the all day tournament. Here are the girls waiting for the guys to retrieve the ball from the geese and join us.
My little baby nephew is now a junior in high school. He did a fantastic job at bat, running them bases and his position of first baseman. It was fun to cheer him on even though they lost by one measly point.
The stands were filled with the volleyball stars (family). Just a day at the ball park. The sun was a shining...then it went down just about the time that Clarissa and Chelsea got back from a Starbucks run for 10 frozen fraps (except Missy who was smart and got a hot one) which didn't make the chilly air much for the summer clothing we all had on. Brrr.
After the volleyball game we took a moment to get our Mommy and daughter picture for Easter. Now you know where Clarissa got them crazy eyes!
My first ever lemon meringue pie from scratch. It was heavenly but not much for looks. Turns out that I only made enough meringue for one pie instead of the two that I stretched it over.

All day I thought of how Mary and Jesus's family and friends were feeling just the day after watching Jesus so unjustly put to death in the most in human way ever. Grief must have stricken their very being. All throughout Friday, Saturday and Sunday they exhibited steadfastness through their journey between suffering and sovereignty. May I always do the same. Our savior lives.

T-shirt quilt

How many t-shirts do our kids get while in High School? One for every club, sport and town that they visit. What do you do with them after they graduate? I collected Clarissa's t-shirts that were still in good shape and made her a quilt. This picture is of the top before I took it to the quilters. If you would like me to make you one for that special graduate, leave me a comment and I will get back with you on the number of shirts, material yardage and pricing to set it together. For all of my friends approaching the big graduation day, sit back and enjoy the ride. Relish this time with your student before they embark life as an adult. Get out the kleenex!

Trained by the Master

All finished and ready for delivery.
All the webbing has been replaced to make it a stronger couch.
Before I tore into the old fabric. Rusted couch bottom from the coils underneath.
Removed the bottom piece and started taking off the welt piping. Trim pieces removed.
My mom is showing me the ropes of how to remove trim work. She is teaching me step by step how to upholstery with her. She has a waiting list that extends out a couple of months. I am going to help her get to her clients faster and make some money myself while searching for a real job. It's really hard on your hands and I don't know how my Mom does it so much. There is alot of heaving around furniture which will make your arm muscles stronger too.

Polar Bear Plunge

This morning I filled in for the Headliner News because the reporter, Emily, wasn't able to come. I just took photos at the request of Nikki. Don't get too excited....no reporter am I.

The plunge took place at 9:30. The sun was out at least which made it seem warmer. Nikki was the first jumper which meant that she was wet and cold the longest. They pulled in alot of money for their donations to their charity organization.

Weekend at Barb's house

Magnets made with circle paper, circle punch, stamps, glass blobs, and magnets. This the major part of my Friday night project...besides eating and gabbing with Barb, Lexi, Kelly, Suz and Mary.
I chose to do just a few layouts this weekend. Two of which were designed to help me in morning two important things that I have lost in the past year. This layout holds my old name badge from the job that I lost last September due to Nestle's Sales Reorganization. I love the old watch face which represents the 7.7 years that I was employed at Edy's.
Can you tell what I sold at Edy's? It was a job that put a smile on my face every time that anyone asked me what I did for a living. How could you not smile about ice cream? Out looking for that perfect job that will make me smile again to replace it.
This is Halo, one of Barb and Gary's Jack Russell terriers. She is such a cute beggar. Imagine bunny ears on her....doesn't she look like a bunny statue?

Barb is the hostess with the mostess. She rearranged her basement to accommodate us all, fed us all weekend, provided bedrooms for us to stay in and opened up her scrap and sewing room for us to invade. Thank you again Barb!

Headband Creations

As you know, I love yo-yos and antique buttons! I made these yo-yos out of gold satin for one headband and some print chiffon for the other. I sewed the yo-yos and buttons onto headbands that are fabric covered.

I ordered a butterfly yo-yo maker yesterday! I will show you what comes of it!

New Creations

The little tree of things important to me. The little birdie metal brads are from Oriental Trading and the butterflies are cut from a strand of trim that I had stashed in my ribbon box. I drew the tree with a brown Sharpie fine tip and the "heart" of the tree was a button from my button box.


My favorite little owl finally gets to roost up in a tree. She looks joyful and wise, doesn't she?

You might have recognized these canvases from a previous post but now....the finished product.

Let the wings of love take you where your dreams are. I love this Basic Grey stripe paper for the base and pink felt wings were sewn by machine onto cardstock. The tulle "fluffy" under the white scallop circle was made by basting a strip of pink tulle down one of the long edges and then....PULL to gather into a circle.

Thanks to my friend Julie for this title. It's funny, true and fits on this wallhanging. The house found it's roofing materials from stips of brown scalloped paper layered upon each other. The owl came from Susan's Slice and the brown heart is Thickers with some red embroidery thread to anchor it to brown gingham. This probably describes alot of our creative spaces.

Special people can make your heart sing and fill you with such joy. The same joy that I felt in creating this little wall hanger. Love the little ball trim, bling and the red chipboard heart that I stamped with Stays On ink.

Valentines is just around the corner! I loved using my marshmallow glimmer mist for the first time. I a light coat over a scalloped circle mask and then drew around the scallop with black ink. The "love" is from a set of stamps that my friend Julie gave all the November birthday girls at our lake scrapping last fall.

Meet Priscilla Partridge who was born Friday, January 29, 2010 in Branson, MO. She is a little sassy and has the eyelashes to prove it. Great for holding pencils, pens, or whatever you have on her backside.