I’m back! I got lots of boring stuff done and enjoyed my break a bit. Although I have to say that I missed blogging a ton and reading blogs. It almost felt weird the first few days to not sit in front of the computer and read blogs (I actually had to have Ben disconnect my wireless internet the first 2 nights so I wouldn’t be tempted to see what all of you out there were up to), but as the week went on (and eventually turned into almost 2 weeks) it was kind of nice to just take a bit of a break from the computer. Not so nice though that I want to do that again anytime soon! :)

So during my blogging break I actually had my very first meet up with another blogger! I had no idea that anyone in my area even blogged, let alone the fact that I was actually reading a blog from someone who lived very near me! When I posted a picture of this tree though, which just happens to be a fairly distinctive looking tree, Dorie from tumbling blocks emailed me to say that she thought that tree looked familiar. Not being very up on my Illinois geography, I didn’t know where the town she lives in was located until I Google mapped it (and I have been reading her blog for awhile, I just didn’t think to do this). It turns out that she lives very nearby, so we decided to do a little meet up. It was so neat to talk sewing, crafting, and blogging with another person who totally gets it! And of course, anyone who blogs and crafts knows that a meet up with another blogger wouldn’t be complete without little presents! :) She made me this adorable squirrel hotpad! (Which is just too cute to use for ordinary things!)

I brought her some photo notecards that I had printed up with some photos I had taken… One of this photo – Wildflowers in the Wind and one of this photo – Sunlight through a window.
If you have never read Dorie’s blog, be sure to go take a look and maybe read what she had to say about our little meet up! :)

I still want to finish the Encyclopedia of me posts, so I think I will start that again either tomorrow or Saturday maybe…

Now I am off to read bunches of blogs in Google Reader to see what everyone else has been up to! :)

In the encyclopedia of me….

K is for…
-Knitting. Something I learned how to do in college from my mom’s best friend (who is like a godmother to me). I knit a bunch that semester… a scarf for my mom, one for my dad, one for me, one for Ben (we were still dating at the time, I guess that whole thing about knitting for your boyfriend/he’ll break up with you isn’t always true:). I don’t knit very often now… I am still working on that same blanket and I think eventually I will rip it up and use the yarn for something else.
-Kids. Someday, probably…

L is for…
-Lovely. I use this word a lot, especially when leaving comments on other people’s blogs. It just seems like the perfect word for describing so many of the lovely things all of you are making out there in the blogging world.
-Library. I have a love/hate relationship with our local library! I love reading and don’t know what I would do without the library. Although I dislike the fact that my local library seems to be pretty good at misplacing books I return (which I then have to find for them on the shelf to prove that I returned the book… yes, true story!)
-Lists. I make lists all the time. To do lists, sewing project lists, books to read lists… Most of the lists are scattered around on my messy desk for me to find someday.
-Linen. My favorite type of fabric.
-LAMB. My favorite clothing line.

M is for…
-Michele. My first name (which I do not go by), spelled with one “L.”

I think I am going to be taking a bit of a blogging break this week and maybe next week too… I have some non-crafting related stuff I want to get done and I don’t seem to accomplish much when the blogging world is there to distract me! So I probably won’t be doing much reading of blogs (or commenting) or much posting on my blog. I will still be reading/writing emails a bit and maybe even on flickr a little. (Although don’t hold me to any of this, because I may decide to post anyways halfway through my little blogging break! :)

J is for…

… June – The month I was born. I love birthdays and love that I have a summer birthday!

… Juice – When we were little my mom would mix our juice with a bit of water. It is healthier plus it makes it so little ones will drink more water (I think the doctor might have suggested it…) I still mix my juice half with water, and can’t stand the taste of juice by itself. It is just way too sweet usually. (Oh and my sister mixes it too still!)

Oh and I actually did a bit of sewing today! At about 3pm this afternoon I has a little burst of inspiration for a fabric scarf and absolutely had to sit down and try to make it… You know how sometimes a project turns out completely different than you imagine it… The last project I attempted that happened. Well this project actually turned out exactly the way I imagined it, and that is always an amazing feeling. To be able to think of a design in your head and actually be able to sit and make that design with fabric is very satisfying! That is why I love sewing! :)

I thought about keeping this scarf for myself, but decided to add it to my etsy shop. You can bet I will be making more like this one though. I definitely need at least 1 or 2 for myself (and maybe a few more in my shop).

This photo is for Karyn (who told me to get a picture of the labels I ordered)…

I love being able to add my name to the items I make! :)