Hello friends
Mimi is here in Charlotte for a quick visit . . . so yesterday after I got done with work we loaded the boys into the car and headed for Mary Jo's.
Holy Moly! For you regulars at Mary Jo's - they've completely changed the main floor area and the registers. I had a hard time figuring out where they'd moved stuff - but I think when all is said and done, the new set up will work better.
Mimi found the two fabrics she was looking for and although they didn't have any of the new Lorax Dr Seuss fabrics, they did have some new multi-book Dr Seuss fabrics. Finn picked out a bright yellow scatter patterned one and we got him enough for some easy fits and some left over (Dr Seuss week is coming up at school). I also picked up a coordinating orange fabric (I think I'll make them roll-up pants).
From Mary Jo's we headed to Long Creek Mills (FYI - they have business cards at Mary Jo's for LCM). All I can say is, "WOW." Lidian

THANK you for telling us about this place!!!!
We walked in and I immediately took out my phone because I knew y'all needed to see this:
This is just three aisles - I couldn't fit the others into the picture. AMAZING!
The $40 we spent there bought us:
After Long Creek Mills we went to a sewing store called Sew Much Fun. They sell Bernina machines and gorgeous higher end fabrics. Let's put it this way, their policy is to NOT sell anything Mary Jo's does. I found two other Dr Seuss fabrics there (and paid $9.99 a yard - Mary Jo's Dr Seuss fabrics were $8.99 a yard). I was drooling over the machines when one of the ladies started telling me about a machine they'd just taking in on trade that they were fixing up in the back . . . I have very little confidence that I'd be able to afford said machine (If I remember correctly it's a 530? and comes with the embroidery module), but they said they'd give me a call when it was all done and ready for sale . . .

what does a phone call hurt?
So - do these pictures convince any of y'all that a girls weekend in Charlotte is in order??? Just think - we only hit TWO fabric stores yesterday. There are 2 Hancock locations, 3 Hobby Lobbys, at least 4 Walmarts, a Jo-Ann's (really there are two, but one is a drive), plus a couple of other higher end stores. . .
WOW!!! Those pictures are waaay bigger on The Dis than they are on my phone...

I am pretty sure it was Athene who mentioned the thread store and not Liddy - but I am not sure????
We definately need a trip... I just need some hard dates, so I can start watching airfare... The last week of July/first week of Aug is out (DH wants to take the fam to Mt Rushmore before Sturgis hits)... and all the holiday weekends are out...
Marianne I am trying to talk to DH into a week long trip to the Charlotte area during one of the race weeks so we can do both races, fabric shopping and having fun.. I am still upset I had to cancel my birthday trip.
So sad my annual art weekend is no more.
Bummer about your art weekend... Maybe we can get all these trips to overlap???
Ohhh! Ahhhh! If my house sells I'm there! If my house doesn't sell I will have no $$ to fabric shop
Argh! Is it Dr. Suess's birthday next week? I thought it was in March. I have two options for dd -- I have some knits in dots and stripes that's an aquaey (that's a word, you know) to make an Olivia and I have a wee bit of Suess fabric as well but it's cotton so not sure it would mix well. What to do

I'd actually seriously love to visit when Lisa B comes to town, but I am not getting my hopes up. I should rather be working on updating my resume since I may need to go back to work full time.
Oh no about going back to work full-time... I hope you can make it to our trip - that would be so much fun!!!
And everyone thinks I am trying to up my post count???? I think Loree is really the culprit.
Sooooo jealous! Wish we had something like that around here. I'd even be happy with just one store. And I know I am better off than some since I live in a city and am a relatively short distance from the border to the US.
I know, I would love a store like that here too... Nothing even close...
How fun would that be!!! I think a trip to WDW might be cheaper though.
WOW!!! LOVE the Mickey in the mirror! LOVE the wallet! LOVE the apple fabric lining! LOVE the apple zipper pull! Your customer must be SOOOOO happy with this!!!
Thanks so much - I am very happy with how it turned out too.
I finally made a few ADR's for my May trip. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do a couple of character breakfast meals or not. It is easier to do a buffet with an other adult but in the end I figure we would really enjoy them so I booked CP & Tusker House-both for before the parks open. Also booked a few other meals. And I updated my simple little one page chart I use for planning that my coworker likes to call my "color coded matrix of fun".
I have a friend that lives in FL that will come to see us when we are there with her DD(12). We are all going to go to
LegoLand. I'm spinning some ideas around in my head for what to make for that.
This sounds like an awesome trip... I am super excited about our TH ADRs too, I can't wait to eat there - since we never have.
I would love to see your "color coded matrix of fun"... even an earlier version.
What happened to the art weekend?
Oooh! Race weeks are always fun! I think I like the sound of your plan
I'm working on that house thing for ya Oh! Did you say your renters are moving out? Or am I crazy? Anyway, I know some very responsible people looking for a 1 week rental in August . . .
My mom has also said she'll keep her eyes and ears open for prospective buyers
Dr Seuss's actual birthday is March 2nd. It's a Friday this year. So the preschool is celebrating the M-Th (27-1) . . . we don't have preschool on Fridays.
Visiting - I do hope you can come down for a visit.

Maybe Michelle can come too and pick you up on her way down the east coast?
That would be so awesome if Michelle and Andrea could come together... Is there anyone who lives anywhere near me that would want to drive down with me??? LOL
Marianne - we are depending on you to get that house sold for Andrea...
OMG! How absolutely fabulous is THIS?????? WOW! LOVE it!
Thanks!!!
It just might be cheaper - but possibly not . . . Hancock & Jo-Ann's take each others coupons . . .and Hobby Lobby. Mary Jo's has some fabulous deals. And I think one could DEFINITELY save a TON of money at Long Creek Mills on their embroidery thread (or sewing thread, or serger thread). . .
Ack! I deleted your Legoland paragraph. . . we're going to Orlando for June 2nd (DH's cousin is getting married) . . . I'm angling for a trip to Legoland (since there is NO WAY Finn will have grown enough to make Magic Kingdom for the day worth it) . . .I'm 99% sure the in-laws (they're Disney-haters )would rather do that than Disney.
Your going to Orlando on my bday... I would love to spend my Bday in WDW... Hmmm... It seems there are a few "holidays" I should spend in Disney... Better get back to work....
You have done it again D, the bag is fabulous as usual.
It's a good thing that you already sent it to the new owner because I can see Lidian "barrowing" this bag because it matches he phone case so nicely. LOL.
Thanks! Yah, I was a little worried about posting pics of this bag, especially after the conversation on Liddy's PTR the last few days... I didn't realize she was such a huge EQ fan...
OMG! How amazing!!!! I bet your customer is super happy with this! I'm so jealous!!!
9X9 is like the perfect size! Grrr, why didn't I think of this?
Totally love the idea of the "hidden LGMH"! Brilliant!!!!!
I could always make one for you....

You know I would - but I can't guarantee that it will turn out that good... I think this one was a fluke. LOL
[
Yeah, I would have totally stolen it. It would totally match my EQ 3GS case (and future 4S case), my EQ notebook, my EQ phone charm - that I can't use since there's no where to apply it on the iPhone, and my EQ bag I bought at Walmart. Not to mention my EQ t-shirt. And I think I have some other EQ stuff lurking around. Oh, and my new EQ book.
Now I must sulk. I want this bag so badly.
I am so sorry... I was really nervous about posting this bag - I knew you'd see it, and I didn't realize you like the EQ
that much.
But D & I have those machines that will only cooperate when using Gutermann thread.
I am so happy you feel my pain... I can't even look at any other thread, or Mr. Rocketpants goes bezerk.
I found a great deal on tickets for legoland on mousesavers-you have to buy by 3/31 but the tickets are then good for a year. Buy 1 adult get 1 child free and the kids aren't an adult until over 12. My May trip is just my DD(9) and I. We are all going to DL for the 1/2 marathon in August. I considered going to Legoland out there but the older 2 aren't
Lego fanatics like DD and I didn't really want to pay for the 5 of us to go and we have so much else we want to see in CA. I've been trying to decide what to make DD. I thought the Kona Dimensions fabric might be cool to use.
Sounds like it would look
perfect on a EQ Mini UPB
Have you seen her in the parks? My youngest & I saw her in 2010. She was awesome!
If you want to see the Villians, you need to go for
MNSSHP... Let's see if I have some pics from our last one...
Holy Hannah! That's some thrrread!!!
Wow! I love the faces. You and Mr. Rocketpants outdid yourselves -- again. What a great way to incorporate the lime green Mickey. I'm trying to decide whether or not to add one to the wallet I made (which I don't think is anything like yours).
Great hand modeling, too. I can't remember if you use the same hand modeling agency that Andrea and I use. I seem to get a lot of hand modeling jobs because I have 'elegant, distinguished older woman hands'. Just saying.
Tomorrow I'm going to Target. Hope to see you there.
Thanks Cheryl! I'll let Mr. Rocketpants know. I didn't see you at Target yesterday, I was only there to shop anywyas.
It would loke awesome on an EQ Mini UPB wouldn't it?!
I've sadly never seen her. Honestly, I've never seen any villains, outside of the parade -- Lady Tremaine told my DD she needed a napkin (from enjoying a Mickey Bar). That's the closest I've come to a villain.
Maybe this year. Maybe this year....
Seriously, you need to go for MNSSHP... They are all over!!!
I am soo confused.
Uhm... you're welcome?
<~~ Feels like she missed something....
I think Marianne was referring to Athene... I am pretty sure she was the one who mentioned the tread store??
Yeah I can finally post now that D has posted a picture.b Andrea threatened to take all my fabric if I posted
Welcome back... I can't believe Andrea has that much power - she must live close to you? I'd be afraid too, if she lived that close to me.
Thanks!
It seems everytime I log in almost a whole week has gone by. I think I am on the FB group too much
Wow look at all that stuff
I have one of those machines too.
Yah, it's not always easy having picky machines...
Wow! Those are super! I love the Wicked Queen applique. You really are a fabric artist!
Thanks Diane... but you do amazing digitizing!
Well, V and I managed to go through our mammoth pile o' crap that I've been piling into our suitcase in our bedroom... I am glad we did - because it was a mess. We packed our carry-on back packs, and I made a list of what we still need to add to those. We also packed our carryon messenger bags, and I have a list of what needs to be added to those, as well. I also packed our suitcases... I have pleanty of clothes, and the girls have pleanty of bottoms, but very few shirts... I am still planning to make 2 more for each of them - and Alli refuses to pack any of her shirts until the last minute because "she is still wearing them" and I can't take all of her shirts.

As of now, the big suitcase is FULL - and I haven't added a thing to the other suitcase... I think it will fill up fast though, because the girls still need to bring home their tennis shoes from their Gym locker, plus we have a bunch of shirts to add yet. Thankfully our carry on back packs are fairly empty, so we'll have room to bring a few things home with us. Not to mention, we have quite a few snacks packed in the big suitcase - hopefully we'll eat those, so they won't take up so much room on the way home.
I also took the girls in for hair cuts yesterday... they both turned out really cute! Allison just wanted a "trim" and V went all out and got a really cute style. I'll be posting pics of their cuts shortly, along with a box off goodies we received yesterday...
D~