Audra Jennings

I had to stop in Hobby Lobby on Friday to buy more canvases to do Seuss quotes. I'd just like to note for the record that I was doing Grinch quotes before I saw all these. I love them. I want some, but I have a hard time getting any because I'm making Grinch canvases myself. Inspiration for some of the future pieces I work on...

I used to be one of those people who bemoaned Hobby Lobby putting out their Christmas decorations in middle of the summer. I now understand it perfectly. Seeing people post online about the decorations making their way out, I decided I needed to make a run and scoop up some things. Seriously. Instead of doing PR work on the weekends, I need to be making Christmas decorations. After doing some work in the office, I caught Angie at the right time to make a spontaneous trip for Christmas shopping. Yes, I did buy some Christmas items, but I found some of my favorite yarn to crochet with on sale for 75% off. That's $1.49 a skein or less. I've made trips specifically for this yarn in the past. I bought all this. Now when, am I going to find time to crochet? I need to make Christmas trees and Christmas signs! I've had a hoard of yarn for a couple of years (at least) I haven't used yet! I'm becoming certifiable!

It's off to go do a set-up for a show this weekend. I'll be so glad when Hobby Lobby opens in two weeks in Waxahachie so it won't be so inconvenient to make a trip when I need something specific. I had to take off work early today to go make a stop before set-up. Most of what was done this week was replacements for what I already sold, but I did get these finished, and need to complete orders in the coming week. Then, it's more stock for the huge shows coming up. Busy! Busy! Busy!

I'm so ready for the finale of Bachelor in Paradise  because it means that the new season of TV will start soon. The best part of this whole ridiculous show is "Almost Paradise" opening sequence. Recapping where we start tonight... In an effort to make sure Jared did not go out with Jaclyn, Ashley I (KardASH) begged Chris Harrison for an overnight date card to give to Jared before he has a chance to answer Jaclyn. KardASH thinks Jared may be the ONE. The one would be willing to go all the way with. Their date barely starts before she pulls out the fantasy suite card about foregoing their individual rooms. She's ready to get the date started. I would not be surprised if we start hearing "Let's Get it On" instead of this dramatic music. Thankfully, we forego the rest of the night, and we wake up the next morning. Everyone is kind of tired of being there, I mean, they can't believe that paradise is almost over. Mikey has a talk with some of...

Another Saturday, another Saturday that my house has still not been cleaned. I don't live in filth like an episode of Hoarders or anything, I just have a layer of dust over EVERYTHING. And my bathroom could use a good scrubbing. No, instead of doing housework, I went on a shopping expedition with Angie and her son Deacon. We, of course, went to Hobby Lobby, and I found the items I needed that were half price, and actually found some wood circles that they haven't had in stores (and don't have online) for months. That was very productive, and we hit a couple of good sales amid all the crazies out on tax free weekend. I straightened up the "studio" so I could do a little work. I do have some new items to post soon. I know... you can hardly wait! ;)

I am fairly certain that I will lose cable and/or electricity while The Bachelorette is on tonight. It's just a hunch. Today, I spent Memorial Day shopping with my mom for clothes to wear on a business trip in four weeks. Of course, it also involved going to Hobby Lobby. And Cracker Barrel. #noshame Here I am, all ready to start blogging at 7:00 after rushing around the house doing this and that, and the show doesn't start until 8:00 tonight. Seriously? Grumble. I have things to do, so I'll go do them for an hour and come back. Tonight, Kaitlyn picks the first group of men she wants to take out on a date. From the previews, it appears there will be a lot of kissing, and the drama is already starting. To start off the show, Chris Harrison checks in with Kaitlyn the morning after the rose ceremony. They talk about early kisses and guys who were interested in Britt. Meanwhile at the mansion, all the guys are still comparing notes about who voted for Britt and w...

I finally had a Saturday where I didn't need to be somewhere before 9 AM (or earlier). However, Mom woke me up at 9:30 this morning. I was sleeping really well. Ok, so I did need to get up at that point and take care of some things before heading out to the family reunion. Last night I had to finish a couple of items for door prizes though. After a long day out at the reunion (and selling some jewelry holders while there!), Dad and I decided we needed to make a trip to Hobby Lobby. It's the first Saturday we really could, and I needed knobs! My latest idea... I also finished an order to get shipped off this week. I love being able to say I ship things all over the country!

The picture I teased on Monday night was the ornaments I made for my co-workers. I shipped them off earlier today, and they are set to arrive this weekend. We'll see if they read my blog daily and if I just told them what they were getting. Birds are a part of our logo and branding. Saturday night after the market we were at all day, we made a run to Hobby Lobby to try to find the big Christmas balls for this order. They were out! Dad had to cut these, but I like them better because they are thicker wood.  Next up... painting these letters! Each is for a very different order, but it's the only word I could spell!

My dad is so into crafting right now, he voluntarily went to Hobby Lobby today. I kid you not! It was even his idea. Of course, I needed to go, so... Because we are so into being crafty right now, I fixed a site to refer people to. I thought I needed something so people at the craft show we will be at next week can go back and look at it. http://TheCraftyDadandDaughter.blogspot.com Dad wondered why on Earth I put that picture on the home page. Mom thought it was hilarious!

I was up in Arlington yesterday, and of course, I had to go by Hobby Lobby.  How can it possibly be time for them to start stocking all of this yet? Of course, it will be half price by Halloween, or somewhere around there. This year in order to continue my annual father/daughter Opening Day tradition of watching the Texas Rangers, I bought a 10 game mini plan that came with opening day tickets. Technically, I am considered a Season Ticket Holder. I picked a terrific year to buy season tickets, didn't I? My friend that went in 50/50 is thinking the same thing. In case you didn't know, even the Houston Astros have a better record than the flailing Texas Rangers who have only one 3 of their last 22+ games. I've lost track they are so bad. However, with my ticket split, I still had one pair of tickets left for the season. Things are so bad that even Paige and Peyton didn't want to go with me to watch the Rangers lose tonight. Thankfully, Rakia wa...

I tried to beg any friend on Facebook who might be willing to join me for Cracker Barrel and Hobby Lobby today. However, it was to no avail. I have some weekends were I just really need out of the house (even though I did get out last weekend). Working and living in the same place, by yourself, can cause cabin fever. I always tell people that working from home is better for people with families than for single people. Anyway... My parents skipped town with their friends, so Mom wasn't around to go with me. I'm so tired of wearing the same stuff around the house, and I seriously thought about wearing a shirt I've had since 2006 today. I took that as a sign to try to find stores having Memorial Day sales. Lane Bryant had a buy one get one free sale. Besides, I can only wait so long to find shoes to wear in Atlanta for ICRS (the International Christian Retail Show), and I leave in less than four weeks. I need shoes that minimize my feet hurting as much walking as there wil...

About three weeks ago I stood in Hobby Lobby hoping I could find someone to help me sew the material I was about to buy so that I could make cushions for my church bench. I think you followed me in trying to paint the bench purple without sanding it down first. I'm lazy that way, and it's certainly not my best paint job given the paint really didn't stick well. However, none of you are surprised that I painted the formerly white sections of the bench that came out of the Westhill Church of Christ auditorium purple. I left the stained wood the way it was. The wife of one of our elders (Billie Thomas) volunteered to help me out when others weren't sure of the tapestry-like fabric I described. I measured, cut, and pinned while she sewed. Other than her machine not liking my upholstery thread, we really didn't have any problems. Oh, except Thursday evening when I took hold of the machine for 5 minutes and broke the first needle. It may have been that I tried to sew ...

The decor at my house tends to go through phases. At one time everything was palm trees -- I still have plenty of that.  Then, purple seemed to take over. (I can make purple and palm trees work together.) But I did not paint a room purple when I moved. The latest thing is birds. I have birds in my master bedroom. My bathroom started getting a bird motif after I got the old wallpaper down. Since my birthday last fall, I started collecting owls for my dining/kitchen area. And now I found bird material to make my cushions for my purple church bench. I found it last Saturday when I was at Hobby Lobby. I couldn't resist getting it because the colors were what I wanted, even if I didn't know who was going to help me make the cushions at the time. My dad doubts my sewing skills, and while I know exactly how I want to make them, I even have my doubts of sewing this particular tapestry material. You know me, always with yet another project to do. After talking to a few peopl...

Today, my aunt was hosting a reception for my cousin and her new husband at her house in Beckville, TX. Don't know where Beckville is? Well neither does the vast majority of people who live in Texas. It's a spot on the road. Two and a half hours away. And obviously in middle of no where if you are seeing the space between towns of significance and realize that blue line is 130 miles long. (With speed zones and stop lights, it really is over two and a half hours away.) When I agreed to go with my mom I was hoping we could manage to find a Starbucks and a Hobby Lobby in Tyler on the way to or fro. At first when I run this by my mother, she hedges a little bit offering a stop at Walmart in Athens because I was in search of yarn. "Nah, that's alright." She could tell I was bummed and did offer to loop around on the way, but I told her we didn't have to. We did decide we would stop on the way back though. After too many sweet offerings at Aunt Susan'...

Today, Paige, Peyton and I had a shopping day out. We all had gift cards burning holes in our pockets. I went through mine better than they went through theirs. Peyton and I got some Starbucks. I bought a little lamp and vase at Cracker Barrel which took out that card. Then we met Rakia for burgers at a new place called Scrumbsous. I am not sure if I spelled that right, but it has crumb in it. I am sure the pies were great but we ate too much burgers and sweet potato fries and onion rings between us. And it was a great visit. Found mom a calendar for 75% off at Mardels of the same brand she wanted. I used my Hobby Lobby card for yarn. No surprise. The girls found 50% off frames. Much like my mom said about Brian and I when we were young, I should not have fed them. I thought they were going to break everything in the store. We went to Justice at the mall where Taylor Swift music was playing and so help me I will never ever ever get the song out of my head. I refused to let ...

Stir crazy from being in my house or the church building for three straight weeks, I was stir crazy and decided to go looking for picture frames for some of the the pictures I took and bought on my trip. So, I spent all day shopping. After getting myself going the right way with a frappachino at Starbuck's (basically what happens anytime I drive through Ennis), I debated the three routes I could go. To Waxahachie where I'd hopefully find what I wanted at Target, and then on to Arlington. Or just go to Arlington. Or go to Mesquite and possibly meet up with Rakia. She ended up having something going on, but I was already that direction when I heard back from her. I started off at Garden Ridge where they have Christmas out before school starts. That's a million shades of wrong, but I found the orange Christmas decorations that I could not find last year. In case you don't remember, Peyton was disgruntled that I had a purple tree (Paige's favorite color), but not or...