Judy's Sew & Tell

Here it is again -- one of my favorite days of the year...the annual BREAKFAST REUNION with the Rita's Sew Fun crew....me, Mary, Phyllis, Ronda and Judy.

We always look forward to Judy's "Sew & Tell"...she started off with some small quilts this year...

AND she has branched out -- making jewelry out of old Scrabble tiles!! WE ALL GOT OUR INITIAL...what a great necklace...and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to play Scrabble...

Judy also made coasters for me and Mary out of our old fashioned Ya Ya Sister embroidery designs...

Remember our cross-hatch alphabet? PERFECT for monogramming bed linens...

AND -- JUDY KNITS, TOO...are you kidding me??

She brought little socks, and hats...

AND more quilts....

Judy is to a sewing machine what Norman Rockwell was to paint...

She is so creative, and so prolific...and her body of work is STUNNING...

These pictures, of course, are just a fraction of what she's created this year. Judy's brain is working all the time -- moving on to the next creation. Her energy is contagious...and it is obvious that sewing brings joy into Judy's life -- and joy is one of those things you MUST SHARE...

So that's going to be my New Year's Resolution. Be joyful. Sew more. Share with others. Quit eating Snickers...

Mary's Famous LeClaire Store...

Can you figure out, from this "inside" picture -- what Mary's favorite LeClaire business is all about??
Here she is -- walking in -- is it ringing any bells yet?

That's right -- it's the Kernel Cody's Popcorn Shop. Is it coming back to you yet?

THAT'S RIGHT -- President Obama's visit to this shop last summer was big news. Well, it was big news in LeClaire, Iowa at least...

So Mary had to buy some of this unique popcorn to take home for her husband, Doug...it would have been SO MUCH FUN to get a picture of Mary, coming out the same door as President Obama...with two bags of popcorn...

But I did get a picture of her inside the store -- buying her popcorn...

She decided on the "LeClaire Mix"...
Which, allegedly, is the same variety that President Obama bought for the crew on his bus...
Did Doug enjoy the popcorn, Mary?

MM, me and the Goodwill store...

Of course, it is NOT possible for Mary to visit Iowa without doing our fair share of THRIFTING..

On this day -- we start our treasure hunt at the Bettendorf Goodwill store...
Mary has to check out which color is "half price" this week. (Tuesdays, that color is only a quarter!)...

I find a velvet leopard print SANTA! REALLY?? And I love my new cobalt blue coffee thermos...

Mary found some shoes in her size...

I bought YET ANOTHER black and white sweater...

Mary took a pass on this jacket...

And she keeps trying to find A HAT SHE CAN WEAR...

If you saw us do our Ya Ya show last year -- you know she made ME a special hat out of a size "G" bra cup..... Mary has a fascination with hats...

I keep saying it...STEP AWAY FROM THE HATS, BABE...but it has been hard to discourage her...she seems SO DETERMINED...

What can I say?? Because Mary is to a hat what Rita is to a string bikini...

Rita's Sew Fun Annual MM Breakfast

I first met Mary Mulari when I owned my store -- "Rita's Sew Fun". Yes -- that is the name of this blog. I love when things come full circle...

Once a year -- my old crew gets together for our "annual reunion breakfast" -- and we usually do it when Mary is in town. Can you guess the restaurant we picked?

Here's another clue...

My favorite thing on the menu!! "Eggs in a basket" -- this was the first thing I learned to cook as a child. Eggs fried in a hole I created in a slice of white bread...yummo...YES -- IT'S THE CRACKER BARRELL...

Mary, Judy, me, Phyllis and Ronda...

Judy brings GIFTS SHE'S MADE for all of us...it's a lot of pressure...and every year...HER SEWING IS A BLOG POST ALL BY ITSELF...


This is the best picture I have of Ronda and Phyllis...

We talk, we laugh, we try to do an annual catch-up. Last year, Mary brought pictures of her wedding...We always do a little "sew and tell". And it is wonderful for us to see what the others are working on. Ronda has settled into a sewing groove that is all about making BLANKETS...she loves, loves, loves, shopping for flannel -- then picking out the exact right patterns for whoever is going to receive the gift. She has a ready supply of baby blankets -- and all her grandchildren have received the PERFECT personalized blanket...which (hopefully) they will treasure for years.

Phyllis has always been our serious FITTING person...and she sews every day, for herself and LOTS of other people. She's the one to call if you have a hard-to-fit wedding party and she actually seems to ENJOY making little flower girl dresses, etc. Some of my favorite clothes of my life were made by Phyllis Krogman...she is the master seamstress.

Then there's Judy. OH MY GOD. The woman is a phenom...she sews, she embroiders, she knits...there clearly are not enough hours in the day. After battling a horrible cancer -- Judy has come back with a roaring energy and whenever I spend time with her, I am inspired. To sew more -- THAT'S FOR SURE -- but after what she's been through, I admire her determination to give back, to be creative, to do what she loves -- which is really how you treasure each moment.... and make it matter...

Well -- I just can't say enough about this crew. And I am so lucky to have them in my life...

Muscatine, Iowa

During Mary's December visit -- she had a gig in Muscatine, Iowa. Just a few towns down the river...one of my favorite sewing machine shops...Neal's Sew & Vac...

They have the world's largest collection of toy sewing machines (that is my claim, not theirs -- but I think it could be true!)...

And one of the most gifted sewing machine repair guys in the industry....my friend Jerry...

And the always well-dressed Jeff...on this day, sporting actual "knickers"

Jeanette had a SOLD OUT audience for Mary's two presentations...

Including my book clubber -- Sandy -- who drove down from Davenport to attend...

Mary had a great time...she had lots of last minute gift ideas to share with the ladies of the Pearl City...(Muscatine is known for making those pearl buttons out of clam shells...)

It is another beautiful little Iowa town...

And I had a ball shopping while Mary was working. My trunk was FULL OF TREASURE by the time she was done. Then - we enjoyed a fabulous supper at the "Woodfire Grill".

Awesome day!! Neal's is the BEST...for 2012 -- if you are lucky enough to have an independent sewing machine dealership in your town -- BE SURE TO SUPPORT THEM!!

Portable North Pole

I don't exactly know how to publish this...but it is a really fun website -- "Portable North Pole" -- where you can make a video of Santa talking to YOUR child.

This year I made one for Ross and Elliott. But, of course, the MOST FUN was seeing Lillian's face when she watched "her" video with Santa talking directly to her...

I kept trying to "share" this thing the week before Christmas...but could never quite get it right. I think the hyperlink will take you to the right page -- just push the play button and you'll see what I mean.

http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/mqQpRwFbuLtnBHYq44fLgpA

Lilly kept kissing the computer screen....this guy is GOOD!!

Merry Christmas

Okay -- I don't usually post on Sunday's. But I'm making an exception today because IT IS CHRISTMAS...

And if you're reading this -- maybe your day sucked. At least a little bit.

Christmas is a time for families...I get that. And we all have this vision in our head of the PERFECT FAMILY CHRISTMAS...which puts a lot of pressure on everybody...

And the truth is -- nobody has a perfect family. If they were really being honest -- every family would admit to their share of problems. Hey -- maybe the key to real happiness is to NEVER be honest...! On this blog, you will only read the completely Pollyannaed version of my family...

My point is -- everybody is dealing with something. People are lonely....there are husbands who are unfaithful, wives who are depressed (or vice versa)... bad jobs, no jobs, thoughtless co-workers, bullies at school, children with behavior problems, sickness, drug addiction, economic problems, bad mortgages, houses that aren't worth what you paid, a cancer diagnosis, children who never call except when they want something, weight gain, diets that don't work, too much drinking, somebody you love is in and out of jail, your son is having babies with the wrong woman, you have rheumatoid arthritis and four surgeries to go through -- (oh oh -- I told Val I'd quit writing about her in this blog)...

But you get my point.

I thought about what I could write here that would make you feel better...and I realized I was way overestimating my powers....lol...

Cuz, hey -- Christmas OFTEN SUCKS.

Because of EVERYTHING we put on "Christmas" -- I actually think it is the most-likely-to-suck-day-of-the-year...

If you are feeling sad, or alone or hurt today -- I am giving you permission to have ONE BAD DAY. You can eat whatever you want to eat...Snickers can be your main meal....go buy dinner at the mini-mart. My local Casey's has awesome pizza -- and they'll be open until 6:00. Veg out in front of the television...and here's my best recommendation. LIFETIME and Lifetime Movie Network -- are both running marathon Christmas movies ALL DAY LONG. They'll be sad...bound to be tear-jerkers....which is exactly what you need. Just go with it. Let the snot run down your face...you deserve an all-day-pity-party...

Then -- roll out of bed tomorrow morning and GET OVER IT. Pull up your big girl pants and do something that matters.

The best part is -- YOU get to decide what that is...

It is important to remember that Christmas is just ONE DAY, babe. That's all it is. ONE DAY. And SURE -- on this day -- somebody, somewhere, is having the very BEST day of their life...

But tomorrow it could be YOUR TURN...

And you are not alone...

LeClaire Shopping

"Christmas in LeClaire" was a wonderful way to get into the spirit of Christmas..

Mary -- going into one of our favorite shops...(with a lot of vintage linens)


The stores are all small and unique...At "Vignettes" -- they had a table full of cashmere scarves...

Every color or pattern you could imagine...

And some pretty hot slippers, too!!

Really -- the scarves were all 100% cashmere....and the best part?

THEY ONLY COST $15....

Some of the little shops have new things, others have only hand-made items..there's a garden shop, and on this weekend, a craft sale at the community center...

besides the American Pickers -- there are several other antique stores...

YOU'D LOVE LECLAIRE, Iowa. If you are EVER driving on Interstate 80 -- LeClaire is the last Iowa exit. So pull off the interstate...take a little break....and enjoy a wonderful small town...

Call me and WE'LL DO LUNCH!!

Christmas in LeClaire

Mary's December visit often coincides with "Christmas in LeClaire". A charming little river town -- LeClaire goes ALL OUT one weekend in December...I mean -- there are horse carriages...


And local merchants DRESSED UP IN CHRISTMAS COSTUMES...

I'm not sure what this costume was all about -- but I just knew it would be a great picture...AND it just might be my favorite picture of 2011!! It was a beautiful day...

And, of course, I had to drive by our local MOST FAMOUS location -- the American Pickers -- Frank and Tom -- have their shop in LeClaire on a back street...

LeClaire goes ALL OUT this time of year -- and I'd just like to say THANK YOU. Because it AIN'T EASY in today's world to do business against Walmart and the big box stores...so next time you're driving through a town like LeClaire...slow down...and give them a second look...you might be surprised!!

I almost forgot to show you what we BOUGHT...

The boys are TWO!!

In 2009 -- my sister Deena had TWO GRANDSONS born on Thanksgiving weekend. I cannot believe how fast these two years have gone...it was time for their second birthday party.

I got a great picture of the two young Moms taking a picture...Brenda on the left and Kelcy on the right...watching their toddlers blowing out the candles...
I probably should have been taking a picture of the boys, eh? Kelcy did a stellar job on the cake. Of course -- it was Thomas Train!!

Deena with Mason...

Then with Clayton...

Here's a rare picture of Avery EATING...(that's a private family joke)...

The next time you see her -- she will be rocking out her new BELLE dress from Grandma Deena. Really...it's amazing...you won't believe it...

Girls are so much more fun to shop for. I'M JUST SAYIN'