GMB Auction Slideshow

Fools Under Lotsa Loot

TLC is doing a new show about "hoarders". My fear is that my family will Tivo it...and then tie me to a chair to make me watch it. (after they move the magazines, books and newspapers off the chair). Americans are on our way to yet-another-support-group. Instead of AA, or Overeaters Anonymous, it'll be called "FULL". That stands for 'Fools Under Lotsa Loot". We'll have to attend meetings. We'll stand up and admit, "My house is full. My sewing room is full. My basement is full. I have too much stuff."

Every Saturday -- I spend the day with my friend Bert. We kick around, go to auctions, do some garage-saling, maybe stop at a church rummage sale or a Goodwill store. We love our Saturdays. The problem, of course -- is that we both have WAY TOO MUCH STUFF. Although Bert is more discerning than me -- my biggest problem is that I absolutely must buy the thing (whatever it is) if I think it's cheaper than it should be.

On a recent Saturday (remember -- it's AUGUST), I met Bert for breakfast -- we did some "junkin" -- and I put the new "treasure" in the back seat of my Taurus, on top of the old "treasure" (the trunk has been full for 2 years). I have puzzles, games, clothes, probably 40 books or books on tape, a riding toy, a car seat (laying sideways), a $1 lampshade, and a huge pregnancy pillow (only $5). Trust me -- it's PILED HIGH...

I also have four bags of groceries sitting on the passenger seat...along with more books, several totebags from the classes I've been taking...and, oh, yeah -- there were also two big bags full of end-of-the-summer-beach-towel-bargains I bought at Dillard's.

Driving through the small town of LeClaire, Iowa -- I got pulled over by a policeman. I wasn't too worried, because I knew I was not speeding...

Officer: Your tags are expired,Mrs. Farro.

Me: (inside my head, screaming a curse word) Sorry, Officer.


Him: They were due way back in March...


Me: (screaming double curse words in my head) So sorry, officer...
Him: Your tags are so far out of date, I have the right to have your vehicle towed...

Me: (thinking -- that'll cost $200) Sorry, officer...

Him: And this insurance card you've given me is from 2008. If you do not have a current card, I could write you another ticket for $375.

At this point -- I was completely stricken. He could order that my car be towed -- and then give me a $375 ticket on TOP of the $100 "expired-tags-ticket" I already had in my hand. I swallowed hard....wondering if tears might help. (I'm pretty sure that only works for blondes) As I was trying to work up a sob or two...

He said: "But, you look like a nice lady -- and, obviously, you're in the middle of a move -- and I'm sure you have a lot on your mind..."

The next few moments are a blur. Forget crying! It was all I could do to stifle the hysterical laughter rising up inside me...

As he gave me back my license (thankfully, IT was current) -- I said, "thank-you, officer. If I'd been towed, I never would have heard the end of it. But I'm pretty sure I can keep this ticket a secret..."

He smiled, and wished me luck...(with the "move", I'm sure...)


I'M GONNA CLEAN MY CAR. But -- to commemorate the moment -- and as a first step in my recovery process -- I took a picture of the back seat of my car.

Yes, my name is Rita. And I have way too much stuff...

Lynn Browne's bolero jacket

HERE IT IS. As promised -- the amazing all-made-out-of-thread-bolero jacket that Lynn Browne wore in our Go RED style show.

Didn't I tell you? It is so delicate -- and stunning. It really did not show up in the style show picture of Lynn.

I went to the Coats & Clark blog -- called "coatsandclarksewingsecrets.blogspot.com" -- and THERE IT WAS. I'm still trying to find out if the directions are available. If possible, I'll send a hyperlink!

On the Coats blog -- today they have a posting about how to use exposed zippers in your pockets, seams, etc. VERY creative. I just bought a white denim jacket because it had zippers in the princess seams. Apparently, it's easier than it looks!

Red Thread Jacket?

Who's booth is this? And who are those beautiful women? I know for sure the brunette is Nancy Jewell -- and there's a good chance the blonde babe is Lynn Browne. They tag-teamed a great booth for COATS & CLARK at Expo last year. No, the more I look at it -- I'm not so sure it's Lynn. But I AM sure it's Lynn in the second picture....(keep scrolling).



Lynn made and modeled a red dress for our GO RED event -- and the little bolero jacket was made entirely out of THREAD. With any luck, Lynn & Nancy will read this post -- and send me a close-up picture of the jacket. Because it is AMAZING. (if I know Nancy Jewell, that picture will be in my mailbox before the end of the day).
Hey -- wouldn't it be cool if I could hyperlink you to the Coats website, and with one click of your mouse -- you could get the instructions for her jacket? Hummm.... it's been awhile since I practiced my "hyperlink" skills.....
One of the best things about last year's GO RED Event was that every single attendee got a really wonderful Goody Bag, including a free spool of Dual Duty XP RED thread. They also got a fun coupon book, and if they went to the Coats Booth after the style show, they got a SECOND free spool of Red Thread. The Coats booth was SWAMPED -- and, altho I'm sure I took a picture -- it's just possible that I can't even tell it's the Coats booth. My photo is nothing but the backside shot of 600 women, all worried that they'd run out of thread!!

Coats and Clark run out of thread?? Is there corn in Iowa? Rain in Seattle? Puhleezzee....

Chris & Judy -- My Silly Stalkers

I LOVE BLOGGING!!... No kidding!! It is especially fun when I actually hear from somebody who is READING this blog. And, as you know by now -- whenever that happens -- I quickly try to post a picture of that person. And, hey -- it's been a HUGE learning experience!

After Chris emailed me the other day -- it wasn't hard to find a picture of her & Judy -- as they have been stalking me FOR YEARS!!

In this picture, Judy is holding their well-worn, detailed "Expo Journal".

For many years -- they have kept a detailed journal of each day they attend Expo (and they always come for ALL FOUR DAYS). They write down EVERY SINGLE CLASS they attend -- what they thought of the class -- the teacher, the handouts, what they liked or didn't like. What they learn, what they intend to do with their new knowledge...THEIR BOOK IS AMAZING!!

Last year, the two of them ended up being the "sous chefs" for Nancy Zieman at the "Kick it Up A Stitch" event. They brought supplies -- crock pots, utensils, groceries -- whatever Nancy needed -- they drove everything all the way from Oregon (okay -- it's not really that far -- but the extra kitchen supplies did mean they had less room for fabric purchases to take home...still a sacrifice, right?).

And this picture is of the two of them surprising me right before I started the "Go RED" Style Show on sunday morning. Although I did urge everybody attending the event to wear something "red" -- I certainly NEVER EXPECTED THESE OUTFITS!! WHAT A SHOCK! I cannot remember when I ever laughed harder! Although I appreciate all the work they went to -- making those fabulous "Go Rita" red shirts -- I've gotta wonder if they really had much opportunity to wear them this year?? (Maybe washing the car? Or painting the house?)

The message on my shirt says, "It's only funny until somebody gets hurt. Then it's freaking hilarious." And, just for the record -- I've had LOTS OF OCCASIONS to wear my Go Red shirt this year! (cuz that's just how I roll...)

OH YEAH -- we had a really, really good time in 2009 (that almost rhymes, eh?).

I can hardly wait until next year. Chris & Judy are what Expo is all about. And, for us -- it really is a sisterhood.

Elliott, Ross, Cale, Garrett, Cash

My niece, Amy, told me she was reading my blog -- and you KNOW THE DANGER ZONE. That means I have to find a picture of her BOYS.

Here's Cale & Garrett -- with my baby, Elliott -- snacking on some CANNED CHEESE. (busted!...did she think I made them eat brocolli?)

My other son, Ross is giving Cash a ride in a plastic bucket. HE LOVED IT...

Who knew a cardboard box would be good for over an hour of entertainment?

Oh, yes, he's very pleased with himself...

The next picture is for Bill. (Amy's husband -- the Dad of these adorable boys). The boys gave me a "Bagolicious" bag for Christmas. Cash knew exactly what to do with it.

I enjoy doing crafts with the boys. One day, Bill was picking them up -- they were each wearing six or seven strands of Mardi Gras beads...Bill said, "Rita -- could you lay off the jewelry making? They're enjoying it a little too much..."

Of course, it's not ALL fun and games. I make them work, too. You can see Garrett hates doing dishes.

Their favorite thing to do is make Cinnamon Cakes -- which is a tube of refrigerator biscuits. Cale makes letters of the alphabet and Garrett sculpts dinosaurs. I miss these little boys...

Bonnie in a Towel Wrap

Oh, yes -- this is an AMAZING fun -- really easy thing to sew.

And you would be impressed if I could only load the NEXT picture of Bonnie -- which shows what it looks like after she wraps the towel around her back, and puts her left arm in the third armhole...

But, alas, my blogger shortcomings keep causing trouble. Because the next picture is "sideways". Ugh. Blogspot will let me rotate the photo.

I've spent over an hour trying to make that happen. It's late. I've reached my limit.

Oh...the heck with it. I'm just gonna upload the sideways picture. Otherwise, I'll forget about it and you'll always wonder what the towel wrap looked like on Beautiful Bonnie.

Besides. This is a test. Mary Mulari and I were discussing the towel wrap as a quick gift idea for our new Midwest Ya Ya Sister Act -- and I told her I had pictures.

NOW we'll find out whether or not she's still reading the blog....!

So here it is, Mary -- just turn your computer screen sideways and you'll see exactly what I was talking about.

Bonnie -- YOU LOOK FABULOUS!!!

P.S. -- AND, Mary -- I've also figured out how to size it for children. Regular bathtowels make great little-kid-wraps. The pink part at the top is the bottom of a t-shirt...so it really is just fifteen minutes of sewing! (but, make no mistake -- three intense days of measuring!)