In the pursuit of Happiness...

Ready for Spring

2011-03-04T07:33:00.005-06:00

You may have noticed a huge gap in postings.

The last few months have been very full. The end of 2010 brought 85 work weeks at my job outside of CGC, which left little time for my little quilt and fabric shop.

The holidays were very sad, as my step-father lost his battle with Cancer and my father-in-law lost his battle with MS. My son had Scarlett Fever in January and was very sick during that time. February brought a fourth ear surgery, tonsillectomy, and adnoidectomy for my son as well. He is recovering slowly, but he will be fine.

We are sad at the loss of two very important people in our lives. But, our fathers wanted us to lives our lives to the fullest and enjoy our dreams.

So, we are clearing the clutter of our lives and refocusing our efforts. Spring cleaning and clearance pricing at CGC is underway, making room for new and fresh inventory and new creations that we hope will bring much joy to their recipients.

We will be listing several awesome new patterns from ModKid Boutique, Amy Butler, and many other favorite designers.

We are looking forward to several beautiful fabric shipments at the end of Spring as well.

Everyday is a new opportunity to create and inspire. Handmade gifts are an awesome way to give a true piece of yourself to someone you love.

What will YOU create this year?

Big Girl Panties

2010-09-06T23:31:00.007-05:00

Tonight, I am sitting here at almost midnight with a horrible migraine. I am on the front porch watching the rain make puddles outside. I have been browsing other crafty ladies' blogs looking for the inspiration I need to get back into my sewing room.

I started to ponder what the last two years of my life have been like.

The moment became very emotional.

A little over two years ago, my husband and our little family moved to his new duty station in Corpus Christi, Texas. It was the hardest thing I had to do (at that point) in my life. We left a home that had become everything I ever wanted from life in Appomattox, Virginia.

It was the home our son was born in. It was the community I finally felt accepted in. We left neighbors who have become some of my best friends. It was the place I felt God made just for me.

This was not the first move we have had due to his career. It was not the first move I experienced in my life. I am very used to moving around. My father was in the Air Force and we moved a few times before I was 7. Then at 7, my parents divorced. I always thought I handled it well. But, as I get older, I realize that I did not handle it very well at all.

Our home in Appomattox seemed to fill places in my life that had no connection. It was just what I needed.

When we first came to Texas, it felt like another dream fulfilled. But, it has not been at all what I hoped. All my life, I thought the answer to life's problems would be to move to Texas. My father has been here for many years. I always loved to visit. It was so different from Las Vegas.

Living here would be the first time in over five years that my husband and I actually LIVED together 24 hours a day. Previously, his career with the Coast Guard has kept him gone more than I thought he would be. Our home was more like an overpriced hotel for my husband. We found that we had to get to know each other all over again. During the years that he came back and forth from the sea, we lived many parts of life without him. We learned how to function just our son, the dog, and myself. We did fine. But, it wasn't the same without Chris.

We spent the first year of our time in Texas fighting alot. We were under alot of stress financially. We had been unable to sell out home in Virginia and ended up renting it out for only a portion of what the mortgage cost. This was eating up alot of our money. There was constant worry something bad would happen to the house that we couldn't afford to fix. There was constant worry our renters may not pay their rent. There was a feeling that we couldn't move on. But, part of me deep down didn't want to move on. I wanted to go back to Virginia. With our friends. Where I first met my husband. We had so many happy memories there. I prayed our house would NOT sell. While my husband prayed it WOULD sell.

But, I knew in the end, it had to happen.

Finally we started to settle in to our home in Portland, Texas. It is a smaller town compared to Corpus. It is as close to the type of town we lived in when we in Virginia as we can get for now. There are hundreds of acres of farm lands. Everything we need is close by. There are great things to do with the family. Our apartment is not as big as our house was, but it really is nice. We have been blessed with great neighbors who are now close friends. We started weekly marriage counseling. We found a great church. Things were slowly getting better. More comfortable. Chris found a second job that would allow us to the opportunity to get out of debt without having to send me back to work, putting out son in day care.

Then came a phone call in April of 2009 that caused my entire life to explode. My step father, the man who pretty much raised me as if I was his own and had devoted 20 hours a day for almost 20 years to his wife and kids, was diagnosed with stage four esophogeal cancer. He had been given only months to live and was not expected to live through October.

In that moment, nothing mattered. I was not a wife. I was not a mom. I was not a small business owner. I was just a little girl. With a sick Dad.

This was hard for my husband to comprehend. He was never close to his father and has never really experienced having a loved one sick or dying. I couldn't explain this to my son. He just barely turned three.

Within two weeks, I was in Las Vegas with our son, trying the best I could to help my mother and Papa somehow. He needed treatment. The only place that could help him was in Houston, Texas. My sister was getting ready to graduate with her masters. My three younger brothers are still minors living at home. Mom was a home school mom, who hadn't worked outside of the home in over 20 years. She had to drop everything to care for our Dad and her husband.

I spent a month in Vegas. I don't feel I was much help. I tried. I knew they needed help cleaning the house, keeping the yard up, feeding the kiddos. But, emotionally, I was a mess. I didn't know what to do from one minute to the next.

Meanwhile, my husband and I were having our own issues, long distance. He felt my job was at home. I felt, at that moment, my parents needed me more than he did.

I never felt more torn in my life.

I returned home in June. I was not myself. I was unable to focus on anything. I didn't care about my business. It has pretty much gone from bustling to a stand still since that time. I have only made one quilt in the last year, where previously, I made at least one a month. I felt as if I was losing my mind and no one could understand.

Usually, I call my mom when things are hard. But, this time...I couldn't call her. She was having her own difficulties getting through each day. It felt selfish to be so upset. This is HER husband. He is ALL she has (in her opinion). I have my husband, my son, and my brothers and sister.

The stress between Chris and I was growing worse by the day. Eventually, I left Chris in July of 2009, after he lost his temper one day and started taking his frustrations out on our son.

I didn't want to leave him. I knew we, as a family, needed help to learn how to deal with all of the stresses in our life. But, I can't make someone get help who doesn't think he needs it.

July to October, I lived with my father and stepmother in Texas. I was able to get a part time job working evenings and I tried to figure out what the heck I was supposed to be doing with my life.

My Papa was receiving his chemo treatments and eventually had surgery to remove parts of his body that the cancer touched. This type of cancer can regrow in exactly the same spots if they are not removed.

I found out in August that my Papa's company, which had been struggling due to the sudden collapse of the building economy in Vegas was basically being sold off, employees and all, except for him. His position was not included, as his boss felt that he would not survive anyway.

This meant that my parents had no income and no health insurance to help my Papa fight this cancer.

This stressed me out incredibly, as I couldn't even stand on my own feet, let alone help my parents financially. I didn't even have a bed to offer if they needed a place to come to, should they lose their home. I prayed to God to show me what I was supposed to be doing. I wasn't getting any answers. Except one. And I didn't like it.

I kept feeling like I should forgive my husband. I should go home. I should be a wife. A BETTER wife. I was supposed to be a mom. A BETTER mom.

My own mom kept telling me I had to put on my big girl panties. No one was going to save me from my problems. No one could tell me what the right thing to do was. She supported whatever decision I made. I just had to make one. My father and stepmother, we not as forgiving. Dad didn't want me to go home. He felt I could do better. But, deep down, I knew and still know, my husband is a great man. I couldn't do better than him, because he is the best. He is not perfect. But, when I took a long look at myself, I really wasn't so great either. I had become a spoiled brat.

I had been unable to get my husband to communicate with me except through a rotten attorney who really only cared about the money (too bad she doesn't get that neither of us really have ANY). One day, he called to speak to my son. I happened to be off work that day. I answered. Our son was sleeping. I told him that he would call when he got up from his nap. This day, my husband didn't hang up immediately. He hesistated. I asked him if we could talk. We talked for several hours. And by the end, we were both crying. We both knew, life wouldn't be the same without each other. It would not be the best life for our son, if we divorced. We didn't want that. We wanted him to have both of his parents. Functioning as happy, healthy, loving adults.

It took several weeks of long, emotional, and honest conversations about all the wrong we had both done to each other over the years of our marriage. We came up with some give and take solutions to work out our issues.

Finally on Halloween night, after a long, tiring shift at work, I drove an hour back to my Dad's packed EVERYTHING, and drove four hours home.

It has been almost a year since we returned home. It has not been easy at all. Some days, it seemed I made a horrible decision. But, even with roadblocks, we have made it through a very rocky period.

My little fabric shop is still open, but lacking the attention it needs. My house has not returned to normal. I took over Chris' night job. It is the first job I have had in over 7 years. Returning to the workforce after becoming a mom is very different than when I was single. I have had to admit that I cannot do it ALL. I cannot work full time and be an effective mom and a good wife to my husband. I initially was working Chris' schedule and quickly started earning more hours. Eventually I was promoted to General Manager and suddenly the entire store and all the employees were my responsibility.

One evening, after returning home from a very long day at work, I put my son to bed. He seemed to be doing well with his day care. He made a lot of friends and was learning alot. But, that evening, he broke down in tears. He told me the most heartbreaking thing. "Mommy, you don't love me anymore. I never see you. I don't have anyone to love me. You love your work more than me."

I was not expecting that from him. He is four now. He always seemed to take everything in stride. He never seemed to miss me that much. I felt awful for not recognizing his feelings earlier.

I could not sleep for a few nights after that. Every morning, when I dropped him off at school, I felt guilty.

I started looking at the benefits of the job of was working versus the benefits of working less and being a mom again. I realized I used to make more working only 20 hours a week in the evenings and then my son would never have to be in day care.

I quickly stepped down from my position. I know this was not convenient for my employer. It was really an awful position to put him and my co-workers in. But, ultimately, I knew it was the best decision for my family.

It has only been a few weeks. I am still readjusting. I am still trying to get the house back to the way it ran over a year ago. But, I am doing it.

I have often wondered why I have not had any energy the last few months. I cannot seem to get my rhythm back as it was this time last year. But, tonight, after really thinking about everything we have been through, it is no wonder I am tired. I keep fighting God's will.

I am at peace with the choices I have made. I know many people will never understand what is going on in my head. But, I had to finally put on my big girl panties and deal with my life.

Instead of letting is deal with me.

I have not dropped off the Earth. I will get the store back up and running. But, it will not come before my family. I will still work outside the home, but it will only be enough to pay down our debt (which won't be much longer at this point). I will be the wife my husband deserves and the mom my kid wants.

My Papa is still fighting cancer. But, I realize now that there is nothing I can do to change his fate. He knows I love him. I appreciate everything he ever did for me. He taught me alot about sacrifice and love. But, I have accepted that this is God's time now. I have to let him work.

God has saved me. He has brought me through the darkest moments in my life. He has blessed me with such an awesome life.

I thank him for providing me with my Big Girl Panties. They fit better everytime I put them on.

A story about friendship and self confidence

2009-12-16T09:47:00.019-06:00

If you are looking for a new story to read to the kiddos at night that talks about believing in yourself, you have to check out "Little Bird" by Layne Johnson.

We all go through times in our lives where we doubt ourselves and our abilities. It is hard not to feel self conscious in such a competitive world. This book tells the story of a little bird who has lost his confidence. With the help of a special friend, he finds "his song" again.

You can preview the entire book online at the following link: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/665766/3ddfd723abcf147caf5d386dfee8d574

It is available in soft or hard cover.Layne and his wife have been married for over twenty years. They have five children and one grandson. Though he has spent his entire life as a woodworker and cabinetmaker, he is most experienced at dispensing his fatherly advice and wisdom through storytelling.

The story is brought to life by illustrator Gail Riggs. A talented artist, Gail has been a wife, mother, and grandmother for more than 30 years. She enjoys painting and spending time with her husband and their dogs at their home in Oregon.

Many stories and adventures have been shared between both families through their friendship that has spanned more than two decades.

If you are interested in signed copies, email me at CutterGurlCreations@yahoo.com

Saw something similar on SoCo in Austin

2009-09-17T22:12:00.009-05:00

So today we took the kiddos out for a little trip to Austin. I haven't been there in a few years and decided to see what was happening. We ended up at a little shop on South Congress.

This shop (forgot the name) was amazing. It was right by the St. Vincent thrift store and some costume shop.

It has all kinds of treasure that were made from recycles newpapers, magazines, feed bags, soda cans, and more.

It made me want to run home and rummage through our recycle bins and see what I could make. But, I forgot we took the recycle to the recycle center yesterday.

Oh well. So I will have to add it to my "to try" list when we get enough cans and papers to mess around with.

Here is a link to something similar. The above picture is from this site.

http://indiepublic.ning.com/library/topics/946391:Topic:59641

Hope you are all doing well. Our Folklorica fabric was ordered last month. It should be arriving sometime in the next week or so.

Be sure to check out the shipping prices on our sewing patterns. What is better than FREE shipping!

Happy crafting!

New Fabric Coming Soon

2009-08-20T22:29:00.004-05:00

We are eagerly waiting for the arrival of our newest fabric line. We placed our order for Folklorica from In the Beginning fabrics.

This is a beautiful line that will make a wonderful addition to any quilters stash of fabrics. The bright bold colors will look great in any quilt or home decor project.

CutterGurl Creations can also be found on FaceBook! We have created a fan page for our customers to see pictures of all of our patterns, threads, and fabrics. We hope you will drop by and become a fan. Join in the conversations about the latest trends in sewing, quilting, or whatever other topics interest you!

Check out latest collection of fabric bundles where you can buy your fabric at a discounted price.

We still offer custom orders. If you are interested in purchasing a sewing pattern and need to know how much fabric to buy, let us know and we can help you find the right amount for your project.

Custom orders save you money! We do not charge a per item fee for custom orders and shipping is always combined.

Until later,
Happy Sewing!

Independence Day

2009-07-02T11:30:00.006-05:00

Happy Thursday Everyone!

So, it has been quite some time since I have updated this blog. I am sure everyone thought I dropped off the face of the planet.

I spent the entire month of May in Las Vegas trying to help my mom run the house while she takes care of my dad during his cancer treatments. It has been extremely emotional seeing my dad go through this.

There is nothing that cancer does not touch. It seems to have quickly dominated every aspect of all of our lives.

Dad seems to be doing pretty well so far. The doctors have said the chemo appears to be working. He is very tired from the treatments, but his body is fighting hard to beat this and I have complete faith that he can and will recover.

Tomorrow, Mom and Dad will travel from Las Vegas to Houston for a two month trip. During that time, Dad will receive chemo and radiation almost everyday. Soon, they will do more scans to let us know how effective the treatments have been.

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This week we will celebrate Independence Day! Take a moment to thank a soldier for everything they do for our country.
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As far as CutterGurl Creations, new inventory is being added this week!

We are happy to have Aurifil thread. It has arrived straight from Italy. Currently, we stock four basic colors: Black, beige, white, and gray/silver. However, we can order any color combination you need.

Also, there are going to be six great new sewing patterns arriving directly from Amy Butler by the end of the week.

We will be carrying:

The Field Bag and Tote

Mini Dress, Tunic, & Tops

Sun Surf Halter

Cabo Halter

Domestic Goddess Aprons (my favorite)

Birdie Sling (Bag)

I know you will love these patterns as much as I do!

Also, for the month of July, all of my customers who place an order will be entered into our drawing for one yard of Robert Kaufman's Hot Blossom Paisley Fabric!

Remember that I would be happy to create a custom order for you! I offer any variation of cuts and yardage and all fabric is cut to order straight from the bolt.

Thank you all for the support and prayers that you have given our family during this time. You are all wonderful and we appreciate you!

Until next time, HAPPY SEWING SEWING!

Leaving Las Vegas

2009-05-27T12:58:00.002-05:00

Good Afternoon Everyone...

I have been meaning to update you all on what has been happening lately, but just couldn't bring myself to do it. I don't really know what is going on and so I have felt without much information to blog about, it would be pointless.

My father and mother went to Houston for about one week. While they were there, they met with my Dad's treatment team. They have some of the best doctors in the world. I know that if anyone can help my dad get better, they can.

At first, the news was not good. The cancer is already in stage four, which is the final stage. He was given only months to live. It is in one part of the esophagaus and three lymph nodes. When the met with their doctors in Houston, they were much more optimistic than the doctors in Las Vegas. But, near the end of the week, one of the doctors told my parents that the tumor in the one lymph node is too large to operate on.

This news totally crushed all of us. Without the surgery, Dad has very limited time.

Mom would not accept this news and spoke with the surgeon who said that she WOULD be able to operate.

Dad had his first chemo treatment about a week and a half ago. It is already showing it's effects, but he seems to be taking it better than expected. They came home and he has already been back at work. His second chemo treatment will be this Friday. So far, it seems to make him very tired.

I have come to realize that I cannot do anything to help my family right now, so I must return home to Texas to be with my husband. He has been patiently waiting for my arrival for almost a month now.

I am so grateful for everyones thoughts and prayers. I know they are working. God does hear them. I can honestly say that, because even though I could have a better relationship with him, he still blesses my life everyday.

As far as my little fabric shop, CutterGurl Creations is still going strong. I am grateful to have the ability to bring my business with me everywhere I travel, when needed. My customers are some of my biggest supporters and best friends during this time in my life. Thank you!

I will be adding some new sewing patterns from Anna Maria at the end of the summer. I have also started carrying Aurifil thread. This is some of the most wonderful thread and it comes straight from Italy!

If you do place an order today through Sunday, please be patient as there may be a shipping delay while I travel home.

I will be keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers as well. Thank you for the love and support.

Until next time, HAPPY SEWING!

Have you HUGGED your DAD today?

2009-04-30T20:13:00.004-05:00

Well, I promised I would update everyone when I found out more information about my Dad. So, here we go.

My Step-dad has not been feeling well for a few weeks. He has not been able to swallow or keep down any solid food. He went to the doctor to get checked out. They found out that he has esophageal cancer.

Today, we learned that the mass is a slow growing cancer. That is good news. It means that he may still be eligible for surgery to remove it.

If he has the surgery and can recover from that, there is hope. If he is not a candidate for surgery, we might have five months with him.

So, I am trying to decide what to do now. I am definately going to Las Vegas. I have to be there by next Saturday for my sister's graduation (her Master's YAY!) Mom and Layne are coming to Houston for the surgery, because this hospital is the best for this type of cancer. I am just having a very difficult time keeping myself cool, calm, and collected. It is always easy to jump in and help out when you are not directly related to the person in questionable health. But, this is so different. This is MY family.

I just cannot get my head wrapped around this. I cannot believe this healthy YOUNG man is sick. It doesn't seem real at all. He was a little younger than I am now when he married my mom. I cannot imagine being in her shoes. They will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in July. They have three sons still living at home. My youngest brother is 13.
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For all of my customers, I hope that you will hang in there with me and be patient. I promise that your orders will be shipped out. I may be only shipping one or two days a week for a little while. Dear husband has offered to take over the processing of orders. So, if you see a pattern or fabric you want, do not hesitate to order.

Thank you for all of your support. I will update when I find out more.

Teresa

New Arrivals and Promotion Winners

2009-04-28T21:13:00.009-05:00

Hello and I hope you are all having a great week!

Our newest fabrics have finally arrived. Check out the Hot Blossoms line from Robert Kaufman fabrics. They are lovely floral prints that have a very vintage feel. They would make an awesome handbag, dress, or quilt! Why not make one of each to match, if it is too hard to choose?

I offer full yard cuts, half yard cuts, and fat quarter bundles. If you are interested in a custom order, contact me to combine shipping and save. Also, I offer international shipping. You don't see a price for your area? Not a problem. Just let me know where and I can get you a quote.

CutterGurlCreations

Buy Handmade

Also, a big congratulations to the wonderful Mrs. Kittee and Mrs. Allen for being the winners of April's customer appreciation giveaway. They will both receive their choice of one yard of fabric or one sewing pattern FREE!!!

Keep an eye on this spot for updates on promotions, additions, and much more.

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In a matter totally unrelated to business, to all of my friends out there, please keep my Dad and my family in your prayers. We just received news that he is dealing with some health issues and we all need your love and support. Thanks!!!

Clearing Clutter

2009-04-16T23:39:00.004-05:00

Since it will be midnight by the time I am done writing this, I will say Happy Friday. I hope you have all had a great week! I have had a pretty good week. I cannot complain.

I was able to take dear son to the park this week. He loves the park because it is right next to the library. I love it because after we are done playing, sometimes he "lets" me check out a few books. I found quite a few good ones.

One that I hope you get a chance to read is called Throw Out Fifty Things by Gail Blanke. What an amazing perspective on clearing clutter from your home, office, and your life in general.

Her website is great. If you think you might need some inspiration to clear your clutter, check it out. Read her blogs. http://www.throwoutfiftythings.com/

My favorite statement in this book has really come at a perfect time in my life. I have found myself thinking about the last ten years of my life. All the things I had wanted for my life in high school. The way I wanted to look. The car I wanted to drive. The job I would have. Where I would live. Who I would be romantically linked to or married to. With my ten year reunion coming this summer, I am overwhelmed with the thought that I cannot and will not measure up with my classmates.

Boy, isn't it funny how things work out? Never quite like we plan.

I would have never dreamed that I would be somewhere other than Las Vegas (where I grew up). I certainly never wanted to be a stay at home mom and married to a military man. Not that those are bad things. I just wanted to break some molds, maybe be a little less traditional. I wanted to be a career woman. Independent. Trendy. Hopefully independently wealthy (I am that, but wealthy in ways other than monetarily). Travel the world. (I am doing that, just a little differently than planned). One can dream right?

Tonight, we took dear son to his first carnival. It brought back so many memories of when I was young. I looked at how much fun my kiddo was having and how grown up he looks at three years old. I realized that even though I am not a rich supermodel who drives the most expensive car and lives in a mansion, I am one of the most incredibly blessed people in this world.

I have the love of a child.

This kid loves me know matter what I have or have not accomplised. No matter what I look like. I am always beautiful to him. No matter how cranky I am. He always wants to hang out with mom. He knows he can depend on me. That I love him. I will support him and protect him. For being so young, he has such a huge amount of faith in me. That is really motivating.

So, like I was saying. The statement from Gail's book that really got me thinking was in regards to throwing out our mental mess. She talks about how everyone at many points in their lives will compare themselves to someone else. I am SUPER guilty of this. It really accomplishes nothing. I try to tell myself it keeps me on track, but it really just brings me down.

From now on, I will have to reprogram my mind with the thought "I will NOT compare myself with others, nor them with me. I will appreciate myself and others for what I and they contribute."

Because we are all different for a reason. If we were all the same, this world would be pretty BORING.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Town Hall for Hope

2009-04-13T15:51:00.003-05:00

Happy Monday to Everyone!

Hope your holiday was relaxing and you were able to have time to reflect.

I have been listening to Dave Ramsey's radio show. If you have not heard about this event, Dave is hosting a Town Hall for Hope meeting next Thursday.

This is going to be a great opportunity to hear Dave's advice for FREE!!! Go to his website to find a host site in your area. He will be talking about YOUR finances, the economy, and how we can get through this without the brainwashing and hysteria the media wants us to follow like a bunch of SHEEP.

Currently, there are no host sites in my area, which is rather disappointing. I am hoping that someone will step up to the plate and volunteer to be a host site. It is FREE to host and FREE to attend! Check it out.

http://www.daveramsey.com/

Have a great week Y'all!

Sale!! Anna Maria Horner Products

2009-04-07T18:27:00.004-05:00

Hello and Happy Tuesday.

Tomorrow, Dear Husband is going out of town for a few days on a hunting trip with "the guys" and I am celebrating by having a sale!

So, in honor of all men being men and insisting they HAVE to hunt, fish, burp, fart, watch sports, Nascar, and SNORE, here is to them and their wallets.

Let us SHOP! Yeah!

All of my Anna Maria Horner Sewing Patterns and Good Folks fabrics have been dicounted. If you would like a custom order such as fat quarters, fat eighths, yardage, etc please let me know. I will be happy to complete that for you.

Have fun! Talk to you later.

Teresa

Reducing, Reusing, Recycling

2009-04-06T17:04:00.006-05:00

There are so many people who are talented and crafty when it comes to creating art on a budget.

Quilters are obviously at the top of the list, since so many of us have started quilting out of necessity. I know that every generation of my family that has quilted did so using old clothing, old bedding, linens, scrap fabric, fabric from other peoples collections, whatever they could get their hands on and while they were creating these necessary items, they put a little extra love into them and they were also beautiful pieces of art.

There are alot of other people who for one reason or another have decided to reuse what most of us might have thrown out and have turned something once again into a useful item. I have decided to list some of MY personal favorites.

www.nickpaul.etsy.com

This guy is one talented and creative fellow. Instead of letting these bottles end up in our landfills, he turns them into reusable drinking glasses that have a sentimental feeling to them. Check out his Etsy store, I am sure that he would be glad to create a custom order for you. Did you have a rockin' party last week and you want to make some souvenirs?

This shop is great because it is not only keeping trash out of the landfill and turning that trash into art that is REALLY awesome and cute, but they are donating their profits to a great children's cause.

http://www.kboucher1.etsy.com/

You will find hundreds of other people on Etsy and other sites who are doing great things with everyday items. Check them out!

2009-04-02T08:54:00.003-05:00

Hello and Happy Thursday.

This week has been rather uneventful so far.

We did have one car in the shop and now it has come home from it's refreshing spa-like retreat. After a $500 pampering, she should be good as new. Until next week.

I had a visit with my favorite man in the whole world (other than dear hubby) my Dentist! Yes I know, not normally exciting for most people. But, I love my dentist. He knows how to make me feel better. I go in with pain and come out with a big fat face, one root canal, and still high on Nitrous-Oxide. Lovely stuff.

Next week will be exciting. Dear hubby has been waiting for weeks to go on a hunting trip with his buddies. And now it is upon us. I am so ready for them to go so that I don't have to hear about all their man talk anymore. I hope they have fun and I hope they keep each other up all night with their burping, farting, scratching, and snoring.

I will be visiting family and friends in the beautiful Hill Country of Texas and cannot wait! :) Hopefully no man talk. Hopefully no snoring.

Be sure to check out all the lastest additions to CutterGurl Creations when you get a moment. There is NEW Anna Maria fabric arriving daily. Her Good Folks line is definately her most awesome line yet. Also, if you want to sew up a new tote or clutch for the Spring, check out her sewing patterns! I have several in stock. Order one for you and one for your best friend, so she won't ask to borrow yours!

Have a wonderful rest of the day!

It's just another MANIC Monday....

2009-03-30T20:45:00.009-05:00

Good Evening Everyone!

I hope your day went well. This has been a busy week for my family and me.

Today was supposed to be smooth sailing...I was going to take dear son to the Aquarium on our weekly visit. On the way there, I was hoping to ship some packages to customers. Then on the way home, do the weekly grocery shopping. And casually make a beautiful dinner for the fam.

So much for supposed to be. And so much for those plans.

This is how it all really went down.

Wake up - late. Dear husband's alarm went off one hour later than usual. So, this messed up our morning routine a little. Then after he leaves, I head to the office to package orders and realize that ONE pattern is completely missing. Causing me not to be able to fill a few orders as promptly as I normally do. Gee whiz. I did not notice that I only received part of my inventory. Call supplier and let them know...they are sending a new package. Thank goodness I will be able to get everything out the door by Wednesday. I am still completely feeling dumb.

By this time, I look at the time and realize that I need to go to the grocery store. And suddenly remember I don't have a vehicle to go to the store. Well, I do. But, as usual it was supposed to go to the shop last night and we forgot to drop it off. Gee whiz again. Call hubby real quick. "Hey meet me at the shop on your lunch break so you can give us a ride home...so sorry".

Our family is not whole unless we have one vehicle in the shop at all times. It has become a Sunday night ritual to drop a car off at the shop. Not only did I not drop the car off, I forgot to buy coupons! Holy cow! What am I thinking. No Sunday coupons. So, I guess this madness started yesterday?

Then I get home and start to do laundry and realize the knob to the dryer is busted. Completely. So, I call the dryer's maker and request a replacement. $42.00!!! For one plastic knob. That I have to have and they know it. FINE. Put that on the credit card...along with everything else.

Oh well. At least I have been able to find a solution to everything that happened. It could always be worse.

Sunday was GREAT. We were able to take dear son to an Easter Egg Hunt on the base. He had a blast. That is something we have not been able to do much of due to hubby's frequent deployments. It is nice to have him home for holiday celebrations.
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As for the fabric shop, we are SUPER excited. Our newest fabrics will be arriving any day now. We will be receiving several bolts from Robert Kaufman's Mod Quilting Line called "Hot Blossom".

This is all 100 percent Kona Cotton fabric and will be so awesome in a quilt. I cannot wait to see what I can create with all of this colorful fabric. It seems very "retro". Here are two of my favorites...I will add more later.

Or you can view the entire line here...

http://www.robertkaufman.com/fabrics/hot_blossom/?fabrics&quilting_collections

Yeah! It's Finally Friday!

2009-03-27T19:46:00.004-05:00

HAPPY FRIDAY!

This has been a very great week! I cannot believe how fast it has flown by.

Dear hubby turned 27 on Thursday. It was nice. He actually was HOME for a birthday and not out to sea. I can only think of one birthday out of the last six that he was home...and the result of that birthday was dear son.

So, last night was uneventful. Hubby said "No more 18 year presents"...

The store has been busy, busy, busy. It is very exciting to talk with so many customers. They seem just as excited as I am about the new Anna Maria patterns that were released this week. I cannot decide which is my favorite. But, based on the feedback I have receceived, I can see which one you like the most!

I have ordered a second batch, so don't you worry, I won't run out.

Also, I have come across some wonderful blogs. These blogs are so much more interesting than mine. Partly because they seem to have much more exciting things to blog about-you should check them out. I have added them to my list.

My current favorite it this one here:

http://kathiskreations.blogspot.com

There are some wonderful ideas on her blog.

I would post pictures, but I don't want to get into trouble...so just click on over there and check out what this woman does with what most of us throw away when we are sewing and quilting!

She is very resourceful and environmentally friendly....speaking of which, I came across another Etsy seller who has the coolest stuff in her shop. I am going to give you a link to that too, because well I think she is a smart cookie! If I had the money, I would buy every item in that store. Too cool.

www.whimsiedots.etsy.com

I believe that next week will be awesome too...this will be our first real opportunity to go on an Easter egg hunt with dear son. Chris has never been home to really do that, or Andrew was never cooperative enough to try to venture out on my own to something like that. We have one that the homeschool group will be sponsoring, which I am super excited to go to. I will get to meet other moms in my area and make some new friends. There is one that the Navy base will be sponsoring. That one will be nice because Chris can go with us. The admission is great-we have to donated canned goods in order to participate. I think that is a great way to support a local charity.

So, until next week! Have a great weekend.

New Fabric Added!

2009-03-23T19:22:00.007-05:00

Anna Maria Horner Good Folks Line is HERE!

I have started to receive my fabric shipments and I am listing them in the store today. I have been informed that some of the bolts that I ordered will not be arriving this week, as they are backordered. So, if you do not see a fabric that you were interested in, please let me know and I will get it for you as soon as possible.

I will also be listing Anna's newest sewing patterns by the end of this week. I spoke with Anna last week while setting up my account and ordering some patterns. She told me that our order should be out shortly (hopefully this week). Yeah!

Here is a link to Anna's blog. She has the most awesome quilt patterns and other great ideas there! You have to check it out. I just love her fabrics and know that you will too!

http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/

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I have decided that I will offer a rewards program for my customers. For every $250 spent in the store (regardless of what you purchase), you will receive $30 in free fabric or notions!

If you would like to be notified of specials or new arrivals, please let me know and I can add you to the customer mailing list.

I hope to hear from you soon and HAPPY HAPPY Quilting!

Here is my current project (well it is actually a year in the works, my dear neighbor Julia might recognize this). It is a breast cancer awareness quilt by Sew Unique Creations . The proceeds from all purchases of the pattern benefit breast cancer research.

You can order the pattern as well from: http://www.sewuniquecreations.com/

NOT AGAIN!

2009-03-23T11:23:00.005-05:00

Okay. Well. I do not know where to begin today. It has already been one of those weeks and it is not even lunch time on Monday.

Dear son. I love him SO much. He is so smart and creative and always busy. I thought today, since it was just my darling kiddo and me, that we might go to the aquarium.

We go to the Aquarium several times a week. We have a year-long membership and we try to get our money out of it. It is great for burning off dear son's excess energy. Maybe, I should have gotten him out the door earlier and we could have avoided this.....

So. Instead of going to the Aquarium to see cute fish and dolphins, we are off to Wally World to get a new vaccum filter. Again. To replace the one I just clogged cleaning up this powder you see on the floor. Again.

You see this is not the first time I have gone through this. I should have learned, but what can I say. Any brains I had, shot out of me on the day this kid was born.

The bottle he is holding is one that I just bought last week to replace the bottle he dumped all over his bedroom TWO weeks ago.

So, if you see a red headed kid running around grabbing his rashy butt....you can assume he is mine. Because, I won't be buying him any more powder. EVER.

Finally Found Homeschoolers!

2009-03-18T09:03:00.006-05:00

My husband and I have been considering homeschooling our son for a few years now. Now, that he is getting closer to school age, I have been looking for a local homeschool group.

It seems like it has been the topic of alot of conversations I have had with other moms lately. I know that because of Chris' career and the fact we will continue to move frequently.

Andy will always be ahead or behind. He will also always be "the new kid". I know what that feels like. It is such a lonely place to be and I don' t ever want him to feel that.

It seems like the teachers only teach what the kids need to know to pass whatever fad test they are handing out that year and not actual life skills kids will need to function on their own in the big world.

There are too many kids and not enough teachers to give the attention kids really need. Too much busy work and not enough hands on experiences.

I also see that Andrew has such a short attention span that it won't be long before some teacher wants me to give him medication so he will "pay attention". I don't think that is the answer.

So, in order to avoid ALL of that, we will be homeschooling him.

So onto how I found my local group. I decided I needed to organize my office. I posted some office supplies on http://www.freecycle.org/ ( a great website to find new owners for the stuff you don't want or become an owner of someone else's stff and keep it out of the landfill). That day I got a response that someone wanted my stuff and it was a homeschool mom who lives right down the street from me. How awesome!

She gave me lots of information of the local group and the activities that they do. I am super excited! YEAH! Can you see me clapping?

So, hopefully soon Andy will be making new friends and I will too!

Introducing Anna Maria Horner Patterns!

2009-03-13T10:26:00.004-05:00

Good Friday Everyone!

I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be offering new patterns in my store!

http://www.cuttergurlcreations.etsy.com/

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new patterns from Anna Maria Horner. She is a very talented designer from Tennessee who has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens, Quilter's Companian, Coutry Living and MORE.

I am very excited to be able to sell her products and I know you will LOVE using them.
Check out her website, if you would like a preview!
http://www.annamariahorner.com/productsewing.html

Starting in April, I will have a monthly drawing. Each customer's name for that month will be put into the drawing. At the end of the month, Two lucky customers will receive one pattern of THEIR choice for FREE!!! HOW ABOUT THAT?!

We are a bunch of busy little bees over here at CutterGurl Creations. I am in the process of choosing fabrics that will soon be added to the store.

So, if you would like to buy coordinating fabrics to go with your new patterns, just let me know!

If you have any ideas, suggestions, or something that YOU would like to see added to the store, let me know!

Have a GREAT weekend!

No MORE COUPONS!?

2009-03-07T19:09:00.005-06:00

I have been the Coupon Queen for several years now. It is pretty much a necessity with my husband's military check. Coupons help to stretch the check. So, today as I am surfing the net, I came across a very shocking article that I have not heard any major news stations cover in these tough economic times.

http://industry.bnet.com/advertising/10001018/valassis-plan-to-end-newspaper-coupons-outrages-middle-america/

But, you better believe they are going to tell you what the First Lady wore today...or what some Rockstar ran his car into last night...like we care.

I read that Valassis (a major source of coupons in your Sunday paper) has decided that it will discontinue printing coupons in the paper. You will have the option to have the inserts mailed to you, but only one set. I often buy multiple sets, as do many other families that I know who use coupons.

Some people will not use coupons. They think it is a waste of time. It doesn't make a difference. Whatever. But, we use them. When I chose not to "coupon" for a few months before our last transfer, my husband went crazy when he found out what our groceries were costing us.

Without the coupons in the paper, I don't buy the paper. I have no need for it when I have the internet and television that gives me more than enough phony news for a lifetime. All I want is the coupons. I want to be able to save my $0.50 here and $0.75 there....it all adds up.

With coupons, I was able to trim our grocery budget from $400 a month to somewhere around $250 a month. The savings allows me to buy other groceries and goodies I would not normally be able to afford or put extra money towards bills.

I am pretty sure this decision is not going to go over well for the bottom line of most newspapers in this country, or the consumers who buy these papers for the coupons.

I hope that they change their minds...I guess I will see tomorrow morning when I make my weekly trip to get my paper.

Borrower is Servant to the Lender

2009-03-06T20:32:00.003-06:00

So, I have finally advanced myself to the new century! I have been hearing so much about blogs. But, I have resisted them. Who really wants to read about every detail of my life?

Whenever I was talking with other people who own shops through the same websites that I do, they have all agreed blogs are it. They help your customers feel more of a connection to you. They are the new way to network and get your name out there. This sounds great to me. As a stay at home mom who doesn't remember what a social life is, what could be better? I might actually meet people like ME!

So, I have decided to give it a try. After all, I enjoy some of the blogs I read. Especially those blogs owned by mothers, military spouses, and women in general. I feel relieved when I read about their day and see that mine compared equally to theirs. Their children are here to drive them crazy, just as mine is here to drive me crazy. Our husbands are still hard to figure out, but we love them anyway. Our once pristine vehicles are covered in french fry grease and slurpee syrup. And we have all had to clean bubblegum or vaseline out of our child's hair.

You might be wondering what my title has to do with any of this.

Well...I was initially introduced to the idea of a blog through my store. I started quilting several years ago. I also started teaching quilting to neighbors and friends as my confidence grew. Because of my husband's career in the military and our frequent moves, my career is constantly starting over. I have always thought it would be great to own my own business. But, never had any idea what that business would be in. Until I married my husband 6 years ago, I didn't even really have a hobby. All I knew was work. Now, I have many hobbies and several things I am passionate about. The biggest one being my love of fabric and quilts. I love the idea of a piece of fabric being cut up and sew back together in cool designs.

While this personal discovery is going on, my husband is deployed on and off for the last six years. We bought a house. Sold a house. Bought another house. It still has not sold after more than a year and a half...life happens when he is out to sea. The car breaks, the fridge breaks, the basement floods, bills and more bills. So, with only one income, I am realizing something has to change. But, it is not as easy as it was when I was single to just get any job. Now I have to consider childcare costs. Extra food costs for the nights I won't be home to cook. Uniforms or suits that will have to be bought, since I can't go to work in a mommy sweatsuit. Though if I could, I would be set. It all adds up.

I did not go through the trouble of having a child to have someone else raise him. But, I see that we need to get this money situation under control if we want to be able to take this child anywhere.

So, Dave Ramsey (the world's most awesome financial counselor) opened my eyes to the possibility of being free from debt. He taught me (along with my Bible) that the borrower is servant to the lender. And that I am. So is my husband. So is my son, and while I am at it...my little dog too. We are slaves to the junk we bought that we did not need. And the junk we bought that we did not have a choice. And we are stuck. So, what do we do?

Dear Hubby (or DH) as he will be known from now on...got a second job delivering pizzas. He actually loves it. It is a nice change from his normal job which at times has been non-stop 18-20 hour days for months at a time. He makes pretty good money for the little amount of time he works. I have picked up odd jobs here and there babysitting or creating custom quilts or bedroom decor. When I am not doing that, I am sewing as fast as I can. I make quilts to sell in my stores and at the local trade days. I have been VERY slow lately. I have been working on the same quilt for a month. Not because it was hard, but just finding the time.

Learning all this new technology is TIME consuming. But, now that I am almost set up, I can get into a good routine.

So, from this point on, I hope that I can check in at least three times a week and give a quick update about what my crazy kiddo has done so everyone can see why my head spins and maybe host a few giveaways for the stores.

I hope that you will join me! I would love to hear about your blogs too.