Pumpkin Girl!!

Hey all – I finished up a Pumpkin girl doll yesterday. I think she is a cutie. The above picture is a little blurry. I sure will be glad when I can get a new camera. Natalie’s is a good camera but it just doesn’t seem to take very good close up pictures.

I also took another of her face closeup – she looks so innocent and sweet.   I was able to catch a better picture of the Papa bird (I think) sitting with the chicks. Natalie is my bird expert and she is too busy reading (I do not want to disturb her) to ask her if it is the mom or dad.

Well that is it for the day – I tried to take the kids to the pool but only one out of the three wanted to go. I make take Alice when their daddy gets home.

Happy stitching!!

Jennifer

Halloween!

  

I like the blurry shots above. Actually it was because it was so humid out this morning, the lens fogged up. Don’t they look spooky?Here is a shot of one inside:

I finished up a couple little pumpkin pillows:

A couple scary bat/owl guys:

Of course the owl pin cushion with a little glass pumpkin bead:

 

And a pumpkin by Natalie:

I still have many things in progress for Halloween and hope to finish them up this week. So many ideas and such little time!!

My partner Yasmin in Chile received her package from the needlecase swap. I am so happy she liked it. Visit her blog at Patchwork, My Passion. You will have to use Google translator to read.  She does beautiful quilts, she is very talented.

Well, I am up early today. I have been up since 2:30am, crazy I know. The kids and I are going to take a little drive to the local ice cream store Sunny Skys today and I can’t wait. Think I am going to get a double scoop waffle cone, don’t know which flavors though, they have so many!

Happy stitching!!

Jennifer

Lovely Little Handmades: Giveaway~ Christmas in July!!

I am so excited, Kerri over at Lovely Little Handmades is having a giveaway. She is giving away a fat quarter of each of the color ways she received  from Monica of the Happy Zombie’s new line from Lecien. Isn’t it lovely:

So go visit and check it out. Here is also a link to Monica’s website at Happy Zombie.

Happy stitching!!

Jennifer

Natalie’s Stitching

Natalie finished up another Halloween stitchery. She has not decided what she is going to make with it yet. It is very cute.

I made a couple wool owls from a Needl’ Love pattern. He is actually a pincushion, I think he is just cute standing there. Gordon has already taken claim to one and it is in his room.  The kids also made fabric pumpkin with cinnamon stick stems.

Natalie was nice enough to take a picture of the carcasses in my studio:

We discovered something in our garden we have not noticed before, probably because we thought it was a hummingbird. We have a lot of hummingbirds in our garden but we also have a lot of these little guys:

It is a hummingbird moth or common clearwing. Very interesting little thing:

    

I found this picture when I was cleaning up the other day. Natalie had drawn it for Gordon. I can’t get over how incredibly cute it is.

Weird thing when I got off work this morning, a moving truck pulled up to my next door neighbors house. We didn’t even know they were moving and now they are gone. Interesting, they are a military family so I guess they could have gotten orders to go somewhere else. We didn’t even get a goodbye.  There is not a for sale sign in the yard so I am unsure what that may mean, maybe they are renting it out. I know we have had numerous foreclosures in the neighborhood, I hope they were not one of the unfortunate ones. Times are hard.

Hopefully you have been able to stay cool. It is a little cooler here today, the heat index was only up to 107, not too bad.

Happy stitching!

Jennifer

Suffering from the Heat

I have been working on a lot of projects this week. Just put together my first pair of witch boots from a pattern I drew up. They are pretty darn cute.

The kids and I had a blast last evening cleaning the refrigerator. Yep, that is right, we cleaned the refrigerator. Well, Alice and Gordon and me, Natalie said she was helping by doing some stitching for me. It took us a good while but it sparkles now, looks as good as new, freezer too. We emptied it, took out the drawers and shelves, I washed, Gordon dried and Alice cleaned inside the refrigerator and put everything back.  I am so proud. They love to clean. The day before they vacuumed the entire house. They do request a little payment for it but their price is pretty cheap (I wont tell them that). I am liking this growing up thing right now. Sweeet!

All of the kids have caught the embroidery bug. I cannot wait to show you their current projects completed. Very cute!

Since it is so hot and my studio is a little warm (it is over the garage and struggles with 100 degree plus weather) I have been venturing out and catching a little TV. I do not normally watch much but I can tell you one of my favorite parts is some of the commercials. My favorite is the Wal-Mart commercials with Darrell Owens the Roll Back guy. I love him, he cracks me up. I did a little research (well I just googled Darrell the Wal-Mart guy) today and found out he actually does work at Wal-Mart. Very cool, I bet he is loving this instant fame. Anyway, if you have not seen him  I attached a video, I hope it works.

Makes you want to shop at Wal-mart.

Okay - I am off to be productive now. Hope you are staying cool in this heat and enjoying a little stitching time.

Jennifer

Pincushions for Sale

Hi everyone – wanted you to know I am selling a couple pincushions I finished up this week. The pictures show the pin cushion and the back side of the other cushion, they both have the same fabric on the back so that is why I took the picture that way.  They are $15 each. They are weighted with Poly-fil Pellets.  The Angel is 4” x 7 1/2” and the Chickens are 4” X 9”. For U.S., shipping  is 5.00 and for anywhere else I will have to email you with the final price.

 

Just email me if you are interested, I do have a Paypal seller account for those wishing to pay that way or with a credit card.  I am trying something new on my blog. For those interested in buying my items I hope this works out – for those who are not I hope it is not annoying to you!!!

I am finishing up an owl pincushion from a Needl’ Love book – he is awesome, I will definitely be making more of those. Here he is so far:

heehee – that is all you get for now!!

Happy Stitching!

Jennifer

It is hot out there!!!!

Just a post to say hello and let you know I am busy making lots of Halloween/Fall goodies for a porch sale I am participating in. I have to get the Halloween/Fall done so I can work on some Christmas things. Can you believe it is already time to craft for Halloween . My kids are getting confused – Alice and Gordon keep asking if Halloween is in a couple of weekends.

Today the kids want to go to the pool. I did promise, much to my dismay, yesterday that we would go. The heat index is 109 right now, I would rather just stay hiding in the air conditioning. Maybe we will go later, we have been going late in the day this week. The water is very warm by the time we get there but it is still nice to swim around a little bit. It is hard when 2 out of the 3 kids want to go, I am sort of stuck until my husband gets home anyway.

I have this old crewel pattern from the 1970’s that would be really cute stitched up. The original size was only like 3” square. It needs a bunny or something in it!

I also was doing some browsing last night and came across a few sites that have freebies some of you may be interested in:

Stitch 

Fantastic Toys

Sulky

AOK Corral

The Noble Wife

Raggedy Scrappin

Hope you enjoy some of the things you find and get a little time for some stitching today!!

Jennifer

We got mail!!!!

I heard the mail lady come today and when I checked the mailbox all that was in there was an advertisement. Natalie just went outside because it looked like a storm was forming above our house (which it was – we just got a good downpour) and she found a package on the porch. Yippee!!! I saw it was from Carolyn in Iowa and I thought – wait I know who that is. So I figured it was going to be my Appliqué Posey Needlecase. When I opened the package, there was a tag on one baggy that said Natalie, Gordon and Alice, I thought wait a minute I thought it was going to be for me. The kids were so excited. My husband was very happy, he gets on me about doing the swaps and was a little irritated that I did another one, until I opened the package and he seemed happier than me.

Inside the kids package was a pattern by Carolyn herself (Lee Prairie Designs) called “Spring Flowers” it has a pattern for a small embroidered quilt and little sock bunnies in a bunting.  The kids are so excited, Alice has already gathered some socks to make the bunnies.

And yes, I did receive my beautiful needlecase. I absolutely love the fabric, beautiful, perfect and fabric I do not have. Carolyn also sent me a pattern for Appliqué Christmas Aprons.  She also included a picture of her beautiful grandchildren, all 6 of them, goodness I know they keep her busy!!

Here is my awesome needlecase:

And the inside:

Here is the entire package:  

Thank you so much Carolyn, your work is beautiful. You are so talented!! If you are interested in finding out more about Carolyn  and Lee Prairie Designs go to http://www.leeprairiedesign.blogspot.com.

So I have been working on Halloween/Fall stuff, here is a basket with some of the items, not much in there but a lot more to come.

All for now – off to be crafty – I have a feeling I will be making some little bunnies tonight!!

Jennifer

Has it been 5 days?

I have been slacking this week. I have a lot of updates. First let me show you Natalie’s project she has been working on, it is for Halloween. She plans on putting dried flowers or something in the bag to make a doorknob hanger. She did a fantastic job stitching and sewing it up. I am so proud!

  

Next, Janet and I met again and worked on our Wool Crazy quilts. I also joined in on the blog at  Wool Crazy Sew Along where you can look at a bunch of talented people stitching on their Wool Crazy stuff. Here is the link: http://pumpkinpatchprimitiveswoolcrazy.blogspot.com/.

I have been stitching on some things for fall, a couple dolls and other items. We ran out of camera batteries so I cannot show you my little Pumpkin doll I am working on. She is so sweet. Maybe next time. It sure would be nice to have a camera that does not require batteries. Here are some of the things I stitched up:

The other day Alice had drawn a picture on Natalie’s dry erase board. I had to snap a picture of it. The picture is of her and Gordon laying in the grass looking at clouds. I though it was sweet.

We went to the pool today and had it all to ourselves. It was so nice and relaxing. It was like having a pool in our backyard.

That is all the happenings here today – hope you are having a great week so far and finding some time for the needle and thread!!

Jennifer

It is in the mail!

My swap package is on the way today. I am so excited about it. I sent a few extra items to my partner I hope she likes them. I sent a yard of striped fabric, it is Birchwood Lane by Moda (that is what everything is lying on) and a charm square pack of the same line, a pack of Bead Gravy, Easy Thread Needles, Valdani Embroidery Floss and the Needlecase.

I hope it makes it to it's destination okay. I will be worried until it gets there.

My children never cease to amaze me. They are wonderful. I love saying they are mine. Alice finished up her “Muddy the Pig” embroidered pillow the other day. Isn’t it fantastic!

She is very proud, as she should be! Natalie is currently working on a Halloween stitchery, she is doing awesome! I cannot wait to show it off!!

I hope everyone was able to get a little stitching done today – have a great evening!!

Jennifer

Pigges Pillow & A Professional Tote

Gordon completed his Pigges Pillow and it looks fantastic. It is sort of hard to tell what it looks like from the picture. I am so proud of him, he was determined to get it done this morning so he could show his friend when they got together today.

He was also able to pick his first squash from his squash plant this morning. It looks yummy!!!

He looks so sad in his pillow picture – boohoo.

I finished up Natalie’s Professional Tote this morning and I have to say I will not be making another one anytime soon. The pattern is great but with my sewing machine I felt like I was fighting to get all the layers stitched. My back and neck actually hurt from sewing it together. She is happy and loves it. She can’t wait for school to start so she can use it.

  

Alice is almost finished with her Muddy the pig stitchery, which she is going to also make into a pillow. Matter of fact it is time for me to change the floss for her so I gotta run!!!

Have a great day!!

Jennifer

Thanks for the votes!!!

Hey everyone – well as you know I did not win the weekly theme quilt contest at QuiltingGallery.com but that is ok – it was fun and I met some really nice gals in the process. I want to thank you for voting for me!!! You are the best!!  The winner (a real sweety) was Sheryl from Scraps from Sheryl she entered this wonderful quilt (in case you missed it):

It is a real beauty!!!

The kids and I have been having our very own “Sit and Stitch” today. Alice and Gordon are both stitching on little embroidered pig pillows. Alice gave up on the first project because she had to use too many fill stitches and it was taking too long to see progress. So I had her draw a picture of her pig “Muddy” and she is stitching her up. Gordon is using one of his drawn pictures of “Pigges” he has actually finished the embroidery and is waiting on me to set up the sewing machine for him. Isn’t he cute!!!

Gordon is also very excited about his new sewing basket. I let him use my basket I had been using (I typically change what I am carrying weekly). He has it very organized and always handy in case he needs to stitch in between X-Box and Wii games. :)

I switched to a bag I had started making for a friends baby, as an overnight bag years ago.  I never finished it because I was not happy with the colors. I do love the bag and as soon as I find the pattern again I am going to make another with better colors.  It will be for me, the baby is no longer a baby. I cannot remember the designer of the pattern and cannot locate the pattern. It had a picture of a little kid carrying the bag and a little stuffed bug you make to go with it. I thought is was Melly & Me and then I thought maybe it was Amy Butler but I looked on line last night and did not see it. I will have to search my studio. It is not in with my regular patterns because it was supposed to be in the project bag. I think it is time for a cleaning in the studio!!! I snapped a photo after I finished it. It is a round bottom and huge inside. Holds all my sewing/stitching supplies plus my purse stuff when I am going to work . It is working out great (for this week – hehe)

The kids had a blast  yesterday playing on the Slip and Slide. Do you remember those, my goodness. I cannot imagine running and jumping, hitting that hard ground now. I would probably break into pieces, that is after they pulled me from the giant crater I would make in the ground!!! :)

I put it out again for them today but it wasn’t hot enough. I cannot believe I am saying that, but it really wasn’t that hot today. It was pretty cloudy and we finally got a little rain shower, so the plants are happy.

Hope everyone is having a great Monday and a great start to the week. Happy Stitching!!!

Jennifer

Keeping Busy

Last night the kids and I had another all nighter in my studio. The two little ones played with Littlest Petshop and Natalie and I worked on her new bag for school.  She is not making this easy for me.

A while back she picked out some fabric she wanted to use from a new quilt store near us. She had fun picking them out because it was the first day the store had opened its doors. We did not buy that much and after we started cutting for her bag we realized we needed more and also needed a couple other items. She picked out this pattern:

Oh my – it seemed like I was cutting all night, well I was maybe that is why it seemed like it. A lot of pieces go into this tote.  I have always wanted to make it for myself but it looks like Natalie is going to be the lucky one. We had to pick up a little bit more of the fabric she had chosen from the shop and of course she found another that worked better than what I had in my stash. I am not sure if you can see the colors well from this photo but the fabric in the back is a Dark Brown, kind of chocolate Moda Solid and then the Green & Animal print are from Hoffman’s “A is for Alligator” and the pink which looks sort of orangey in the picture is actually a Bonnie Blue from Marcus (very hard for me to let that  one go).

While we were at the shop Alice picked out a few fat quarters:

    

And of course I could not resist a few:

Today the owner Paulette was working and she is the sweetest lady.  We had a great time and I was able to see the Breast Cancer Awareness quilt she is working on, it is fabulous. She is a cancer survivor and is really putting her heart into the quilt.  I saw some of the same fabrics I had used in my mothers quilt I had made her just before she passed away. It really touched me.

The quilt store has a very unique quality in that it has a coffee shop in it – you cannot get better than that. We got some Iced Mochas on our first trip but did not this time and they were real good.  When we were checking out Paulette game me a little tote to use when I come back. Oh my goodness, you know I am going to feel obligated to fill it up!!

    

I guess it would help the locals who haven’t been by to give the address. It is called The Quilters Nest & Coffee Coop @ 2908 N. Main Street, Fuquay Varina, it is on 401 leaving Fuquay going towards Raleigh. They are on Facebook, but do not have a website. They also have some classes coming up for Redwork, Beginning Quilting and Hand Appliqué and a couple different groups and such. Check them out.

Today was Alice’s turn to try her hand at embroidery. I had this old kit I had gotten from the thrift store a while back, it looks like it is from the 1970s.  It is  pretty cute. Alice is doing a great job. Natalie was about the same age when I showed her how to embroider. Alice seems to be a natural, she is doing an awesome job.

I also finished up a needle case I was working on for a swap I am doing with the Quilting Gallery and  One Piece at a Time. I absolutely love how it turned out. I want to make one for myself. I added a little extra piece of wool in the inside of mine and a little ribbon for a tie.

Well I need to get back to the Professional Tote, it is definitely not going to sew itself.

Have a great weekend!

Jennifer