From what I understand, we were, mostly, all able to scoot in & out of Nashville last weekend – sandwiched in between ice storm and snow storm weekends! Thank goodness we were able to load up the vehicle – relying mostly on side view mirrors for the 13 hour drive. Once we got it unloaded,

Today, February 6th, is our 27th wedding anniversary. For the past few years, I have dedicated a small, heartfelt design to the love of my life and this year is no different. I could go on & on about the many joys we have shared over the years: joys that include highs & lows, good

I started this blog several years ago as a way to create a diary or history of what happens not only with my design company as it grows, but my family as they grow and move about their lives. My boys are (almost) 20 and 21 now & really there are times when I forget

…I missed you! Not that I didn’t have anything to blog about – let’s get real, I could post everyday if there were actually more than 24 hours available in a 24 hour time period. If you follow me on Facebook – you know it’s been a little crazy! – Finally got the last of

Well, technically, it’s only 10am, so the day is still young. What I’m really referring to is the massive amount of miles I have put in on the road & the air! Between retail shows, retreats, The Trail of Orts Tour & Houston Quilt Market, I am one out-of-gas puppy! (Good thing I’m heading to

I made some updates to the website today (www.handsondesign.biz). Most notably I made some changes to the “now appearing” page. Of course I am excited about my upcoming travels to Celebrations, PALS Stitching at the Beach retreat & the Trail of Orts Tour, but I’ve got some fun happenings already lined up for 2015! Of

October isn’t going to stick around long either at this rate! Our house has once again turned into a factory of charts, kits, boxes, trunk shows, new releases, and finishing jobs! The dog is already nervous because she knows what those stacks of boxes means! Next Wednesday I leave on a fun journey! All the

The November issue of Cross Stitch & Needlework magazine is out and with it comes the final two pieces of my Year of Celebrations series. I have said before that my actual participation – designing & stitching – has been done for awhile, but I have enjoyed the pictures & emails that I have been

So many kids around the country head back to school tomorrow, but here in the Midwest, in homage to harvest season, our local kids have been back for several weeks now. The big yellow busses have been dieseling their way through the neighborhood and when the wind blows the right way, I hear the horn

I’m so confused as to what day it is! We drove home from St. Charles Needlework Market on Monday & it’s already Thursday…wow, where is this week going & could we skip Monday every week??? Before I get into Market “things”…here is my tribute to #TBT. I don’t have many pics of myself as a