Wild Wide Woodland Pincushion

Don't tell me that's not one of the cutest pictures you've seen on here. You can find him along with a new collection of emery filled citrus slices over in Pinpinn

Tuesday Tea

Tea's potency comes from the tea leaf's oil. The flavor can be easily spoiled so store fresh tea in a cool, dark air tight container and away from moisture.

Though tea can't ever go "bad" (like spoiled milk) it can mostly definitely become stale and weak.

Karma Karma

This past week has just felt hectic and out of sorts. I believe my day job is to blame for my drain on creativity. I've even stopped bringing my WIP (works in progress) box to work. So there's been absolutely no sanity in my work days since sewing has been my only salvation lately.

I have been reading my beloved manga (Japanese comic books) again and have started on a lovely new series called From Far Away. I'm pretty taken with it already. The thing that is so disappointing is borrowing them from the local library. Most of the time when I've finished the books I've checked out and go to get the next set, half the series is checked out or lost or stolen or in another part of the state. This means I have to wait for days and sometimes weeks before I can get back into a series again. Makes me a sad panda. I have a feeling that I MAY not have as much trouble finding this series in stock, but then again with schools letting out for the summer who knows what will get checked out just when I want most to read it.

I have been sewing believe it or not and on some good advice from LilFish(who has been a wonderful help), Tumus's shop will be going on a short 2 week hiatus starting this coming Sunday. There's alot of rethinking I need to do with it and general organizing of thoughts. Call it the inner struggle between good and evil if you will.
Don't worry Pinpinn will still be open!

We had a decent Memorial Day weekend. I'm grateful for the long holiday weekends however short they might feel. I've used a good portion of my vacation time for the pending Wedding and Honeymoon days off so even though I wanted another day off I couldn't chance it.
Saturday was spent planting flowers and sprucing up the yard. Everything looks pretty nice with all the color added.
Sunday we had an impromptu cookout and feasted on hamburgers and hotdogs, strawberries, chips, potato salad, ice tea, and apple pie. There's so much leftover we could eat for a week. We all said a prayer for Aaron and made sure to hang out flags in the front yard. It was a nice gathering, somber, but happy.

Since Saturday and Sunday were so busy Monday was thankfully a PJ day! I did eventually do a little more cleanup from the cookout and managed to finish up a few more pincushions and emery fruit slices for Pinpinn.
I went on a walk around the neighborhood later that evening and happened across a poor worm nearly dried up on the sidewalk. He struggled towards the grass but I could tell he would never make it so I picked him up and nestled him close to the dirt. I felt better that it would be safe or at least safer. It wasn't like I had helped an old lady across the street or anything. However, if you know anything about Buddhist beliefs you'll know that there's strong beliefs in reincarnation. Maybe that worm really WAS someone's Grandma from a past life. Maybe I really HAD helped an old lady across the street after all.

Who knows, all I can tell is that today is Tuesday and there's alot to be done.

What's Going On Here?

Well for starters my work table is REMARKABLY clean :lol: This is due mostly to the fact that cutting strips of fabric and sewing and then quilting them takes alot of room. Felt has to be put away when I start working with fabric again because it sticks to everything including itself.

This is a bag I've made up as a belated Mother's Day present for my grandma ^_^ I loved the idea so much that you may see this very bag pop up in Pinpinn in the next few weeks. You'll have to forgive the pictures as they never turn out well with my sewing room lighting. I need to modify it slightly to be a tad smaller, but if you like it the way it is let me know! It's very easy to customize. This one is about 9inches across and close to 10 inches deep. It's not entirely finished, but I'm thrilled to at least see it 90% completed!

Tuesday Tea

If you're ever in the Far East, Chinese, Japanese and Koreans call black tea "red tea", which is the true coloring of the liquid itself ^_^ Order up!

Happiness is a Warm Lion

I must say that out of the two zoo's in our area the Columbus one is by far my favorite, mostly for the layout. Today we went out to the Columbus zoo to practice our photography and see if we could capture anything interesting. I think both Chris and I did exceptionally well.

Here are some of my favorite shots and one of Chris' (his is the lion, the rest are mine ^_^) and by all means click on them to see the full shots because some of them are incredibly detailed.

Happiness is a Warm Lion


3 Monkeys


Swans


Feed Me Servants

Pheasant Peasant

Pepe

Koala

Needless to say there wasn't alot of sewing going on this weekend, but sometimes that's exactly what you need. A break.

The Long Goodbye

I love irises, but I feel a bit sad when I see them first start to form buds. I know that they'll fade in barely 3 weeks. Doesn't seem like a long time at all. This was taken of my Siberian Irises that bloom late spring. They'll fade out before the real heat sets in but they are SO pretty when they all get going ^_^ and they're BIG too. About 5 inches across and 8 inches or more tall. I need to divide them up this year as they're getting crowded. Was thinking about putting some in the backyard. Even the green beans, corn, and tomatoes are sprouting along. I've got mid-sized strawberries and blooms on my pepper plants too. Sometimes it just feels like the year seasons fly by.

In any case, apologies all around for my absence on the blog. Been working alot on Pinpinn and Tumus respectively. I'm still wondering what to do with Tumus. I really do feel my heart is more in it with Pinpinn. Still I guess I'll find out what I'm made of if I can mettle thru and persevere, no?

Tuesday Tea

One sip of this will bathe the drooping spirits in delight, beyond the bliss of dreams - Milton

(Tea 365)

It's okay to let go, but

That doesn't mean it won't hurt. My brother Aaron is getting deployed to Iraq. His ceremony was last Saturday and it was sad and happy all at the same time. My dad is immensely proud of him, mom is worried sick and I, of course, don't want to see my oldest, youngest brother change from seeing death and real violence. But he has to go and we have to let him. Seems like this entire year has been filled with good-byes. He said he'll try and make it back for my wedding which would be a great honor, but I know how the military is and how deployment works. So all I can do is hope he'll be there.
He's in Mississippi right now doing the last of the prep work and he'll fly out the 1st of June if not sooner. I don't know if I'll get to see him one more time before he really leaves this country, but I'm going to make sure I'm there for him. I'll be praying for him every single day he's gone.

I'll miss you, be careful.





I grieve to leave, I grieve to leave this native land.
Across the sea, I'll wait for him to take my hand.
My every breath, my every bone.
Will draw what strength I have from home
and leave a tear
(leave a tear)
upon the rose.

Tuesday Tea

Never put your teapot in the dishwasher! You could ruin it not only that but immersing it in soapy water can leave a nasty residue affecting the taste of your favorite cup. Instead simply pour out the tea, rinse with clean water several times and turn it over to drain completely.

Pinpinn's To Do List

I have so many ideas I need to get down and stitched up. I have some of it cut out and some of it's still wandering the depths of my brain. So here's what I've got coming up. You'll definitely want to hang around for as they will be listed this week and next.

Pinpinn's List

- Fruit Emery slices (lemon. orange. lime)

- Lime pincushion

- Golden pears pincushion (I'm aiming for 2 right now)

- Green pears pincushion (2)

- another edition to the Flower section (hopefully 2 varieties)

- Halfies (these are a new concept, so I don't want to peep too much because I think they'll be pretty cool, but they're still in the trial stage)

That's pretty ambitious, I'll admit. I'm unabashedly working OT this week at my "9-5'er" so there's no telling when these things will pop up but I have 2 ready to be photographed and listed early this week. Woot!

Got an idea or suggestion? Want something more custom, just leave word here, on pinpinn, or email (pinpinn.etsy@yahoo.com)

Sweeeet!

I got featured over on Cuteable just a little blurb on the Meringue Bon Bon Bunny. It just kind of tickled me a little because so many cute things are featured over there and now I can proudly say I was one of them ^_^

Happy May btw!