Pillows & A Doll!!

I finished some pillows up last week and finished up a bunch of various bodies of Halloween creatures. I still need to paint and prim the bodies so I will not be showing those today.

 

I forgot to show a couple pictures from Natalie’s first day of Middle School. I cannot believe how much she has grown. It really hit me when we were at a store a couple days ago and we saw one of her friends from when she was in 1st grade. I could not believe how much the little girl had grown and when they hugged I realized they looked the same. I wanted to cry.  So grown up.

 

And just because my kids grow up doesn’t mean I have to, right?  Well I have fallen in love with these new little dolls called Bitty Buttons. They are adorable. I told the kids when they buy me a present make sure it is a Bitty Button.  So they told Daddy and he went out after work yesterday and bought me one, of course Alice has taken ownership of her.  Which is fine as long as she doesn’t get messed up. I told Alice when I use up all my fabric and can decorate my studio my Bitty Buttons will be displayed in there.  They are so cute! Alice has name this on Rosa Lilly.

She even gets to sleep in a real bed!

Another giveaway to mention also over at By Your Hands!

Okay I am off to paint and prim and today I think I am also going to work on my Crazy wool block (it has been a while).

Have a great weekend!!! Remember 14 posts until the giveaway for my followers!!

Jennifer

Sandy’s Tutorials!!

Hi all, I had several ladies ask me how to do a couple different things regarding doll making.  I wrote up several tutorials and had my husband take a look at them and he liked them okay but he wanted me to include pictures. Well I am very self conscious about my hands (I am a nail biter)which is one reason I do not teach classes. I didn’t like how they looked in the pictures so I have gone another route.

Anyone who knows me knows if you want to find something on the internet, I am pretty good at locating it on the big WWW. I do my share of blog hopping also and over time I have found some very talented people. One of those people was nice enough to let me send you guys her way for her wonderful tutorials.  One is on doll hands, you know fingers and the other is on pinch stitching the face. Very awesome tutorials.

This talented young lady is Sandy, she has two websites/blogs one is The Olde Country Cupboard and the other is You Are Special Patterns.  While you are there you have to explore all of her patterns, they are wonderful.  Her daughter Samantha  is just as talented. Samantha is having a giveaway on her new blog. (click on her name and it will take you there).

So, without further adieu here are the links for the tutorials.

Doll Hands (click on the picture!)

And the face, isn’t this doll great (This is one of Sandys)?

Thank you Sandy for helping me out – you are awesome!!!

Next item on the agenda is this:

Primitive Gatherings made these for Moda – go here to read about it!! How great is that?

I worked day work – horrible – I hate day work. I am such an old hooty owl. I have to work it again tomorrow – drats. Then back to my regular nights Sunday and Monday – ahhhh – night shift – midnights – 3rd shift – love it – it is when the crazies come out. I love crazies!!

I finally got my 3 issues of Australian Homespun magazine today so I will have some reading to do – they look yummy!!

Ok I am off – have a great evening and remember – tomorrow is Friday!!!

Jennifer

Mail Call!!

I love getting mail. I am just like a little kid bursting with excitement when I hear I received something.  Today I got a package from my dear friend Sharon (of Liberty Rose). I was so excited.  Inside was a present she got me when she was in Oregon and also a little stash I have been collecting in her studio!

Here is my gift -

Can you believe it? I have seen this transfer on line somewhere and I love it – she knows I love pigs – so Eeeek! I am so happy.

When I was in her studio the last time I had made a little stash of her patterns I wanted and she sent those to me – again – Eeeek!! I am so so happy!

Thank you so much Sharon – you know how to spoil a gal!!

I wanted to give you a peak of the quilt I am working on for my giveaway I am going to have. I have decided it will be on my 300th post, so I need to get to quilting it because I am on post 284 (I think). So it was out of this magazine (of course I cannot put these Quilts and More down lately):

I like the 30-40’s reproduction fabrics but for this quilt I wanted to use some of my scraps of Civil War Reproduction prints. I love it – I will only show you a teaser of the quilt!! It measures 27 1/2” square – so it is not big but it really can add a lot of color to a space. So here is the little tease for you!

I hope you like it!!

That is all for tonight. First day of school tomorrow!!!

Jennifer

CDA Blog Hops: Join Our Halloween CDA Blog Hops

CDA Blog Hops: Join Our Halloween CDA Blog Hops
Come show off your Halloween best!!! And also take a little "blog hop" around some of the crafty folks from the Cloth Doll Artistry!! Hope to see you there!! Jennifer

Dorothy Baker Designs: "Sweet Nostalgia" - The Finish

 

I had to post this – it is amazing. Here is the finished Sweet Nostalgia from Dorothy Baker Designs. Isn’t it gorgeous?!? This is Dorothy's top - not mine!!

Anyway, I have not slept today. Got off from work this morning and worked on a small table topper/wall hanging quilt, it is super looking. It is for a give-away – yes I am going to have a giveaway – I am not divulging the details yet but this little quilt is great – I want it but I want to share it with someone – one of you special readers. Details later and a sneak peak. For now I have to get some sleep.

After I sewed a little the family and I went bowling. I lost, I got a whopping 59 points. I should have put the bumpers on for me like the kids had. Gordon won at 105 points. Afterwards we went to the kids favorite restaurant “Western Sizzler” yes they love the all you can eat, it is pretty much a waste of money for our family – no one really eats too much, but it was a special outing today so they got to pick.

Well I am off to get some sleep and then I will be getting up later to sew some more. Have lots to do to finish Halloween crafting! Hope you find time for some stitching this weekend!!

 

Jennifer

Under the Sea

I finally caught up on the Under the Sea Block of the Month by Cheryl Goss of Willowberry Designs. Here are my blocks 7 and 8. They are adorable. I think I am going to start piecing the quilt tonight.

Have a great evening – tomorrow is Friday!! Good for most, the start of my work week – ugh!!!

Jennifer

More Halloween!!

This cat is from a  pattern by Moonchild’s Primitives, I did another like it but this one I did not include the hats or crow on top.

   

A candy corn punch needled pin cushion, pattern by Stone & Thread:

The rest we did not use patterns for. Natalie was having a ball, I think she had the sleepy giggles the entire time. She was being pretty silly!

Natalie made these two little buckets:

Some Halloween shakers!

 

And Mr. and Mrs. Pumpkin Springs: 

Natalie and I also did a little playing around. This here is our friend Sassy Kitty Bat:

And her friend Mr. Squirrel Flats:

I cannot believe it is already the middle of the week , next Wednesday the kids begin school again. Time sure does fly by.

I hope you are able to get a little stitching in before the day is over. I have a couple blocks of the month I need to finish up.

Jennifer

Saturday Project

 

Isn’t he a cutie! I was crafting like crazy Saturday night and then I injured myself, I feel like a wimp. I was making some little Halloween kitty wand thing-ys (you will see at another time – I am too mad at them to show). I had a new glue gun that I had not opened yet and Natalie needed to use one so I gave her my old one and decided to use the new one. I was not use to the glue coming out so easily, because my old one has so much gunk on it. Well I kept burning myself with the glue, no biggie, but then I got a lot on one of my fingers and it hurts like crazy and I have a blister.

Gordon was nice enough to fetch me some ice and Alice was nice enough to inform me it wasn’t a good idea to play around with the glue gun, and I should be much more careful next time. Silly girl!!

So I quit, yes I was a wimp.  But I am happy I got the little owl fellow done.

Natalie was doing some painting. She got the idea from the new issue of Create and Decorate. She made some cute little paintings.  She hasn’t been or painting as much as she use to so it was nice to see her doing it again.

We had a great weekend and I hope you did!

Jennifer

Halloween Pillow

Sometimes I  don’t like it when something I make to sell turns out better than I had planned it to. Why? Because then I have to part with it and it is so painfully bad. An example would be this pillow.  I stitched it, I think, two years ago and I love it. The fabric dyed exactly how I wanted, the color of the floss I used is absolutely perfect for the fabric color, etc, etc. I think that is why I held on to it for so long, I used the excuse I was trying to figure out what I was gong to do with it. I loved it too much to let go. The pattern is one block from  a Crab-apple Hill pattern called “Hocuspocusville” (there are 12 different houses in all). It is a ton of stitching.  Last night I made it into a pillow, I love the pillow. It is rather large, it is 17” X 24.” And did I mention I love it. Here it is in all it’s beauty.

 

Makes me sigh, hohummmm.

I also stitched one in Orange floss, the background fabric I used I also dyed with walnut crystals and it turned out awesome, it is a Haunted Quilt Shop. I stitched this one about the same time as the other. This one I do not love as much, I still love it, which explains why it is still not made into anything but it does not have the power over me that the first one does.

Have a great Saturday!!!

Jennifer

Up all Night!

Goodness, what a night, and I thought my partying nights were over! :)

The kids and I stayed up pretty late last night. We wanted to see the Perseid Meteor shower and we  got a nice little eye full around 3:30am.

Every year at this time, the Earth passes through the orbit of a comet called Swift-Tuttle, and the result is a meteor shower -- shooting stars, perhaps 50 or 60, and occasionally as many as 100 per hour, streaking across the night sky as debris from the comet enters the earth's atmosphere and burns up.

I found this video on YouTube.  It is a great representation of  what we saw. Well, the girls and I. Gordon got spooked when Alice and I screamed with excitement when we saw the first one.

I stayed up until 7am this morning working on a couple of Whales for the kids. Gordon wanted me to make a stuffed whale from an appliqué shape that was in the new BHG Quilts and More.

It is a pattern called “Take the Plunge” by Gail Kessler of Ladyfingers Sewing Studio.

So I started and then of course Alice wanted one. They turned out kind of cute but I think I am going to change it up a little bit, I have some great ideas for it. I put a bow on Alice’s (blue) whale and she made me take it off this morning. She wanted it plain like a real whale.

I also made the little “Tiny Treats” bags from Monica Solorio-Snow of Happy Zombie. They are adorable and two fat quarters will make 4 little bags. Check these little cuties out.

To show you the size a little better here is Natalie holding one. My husband came up with a great idea for these so this will not be the last time you see them for Halloween, or I should say for any season.

I also got the new Holiday Crafts magazine which has this cute little mouse from Pamela Gracia of Soft in the Head. I love love love her designs.

     

I plan on attacking this magazine after I have finished up a little more Halloween crafts and there is quite a few projects in the Quilts and More I want to complete!

I hope you are finding some time to pick that needle up today. Have a super one!

Jennifer

Pay it Forward!

I've just signed up with Samya, so now it's my turn to host a Pay It Forward here. This is a lovely way to spread a little sunshine & happiness around the blogging community by sharing handmade gifts.Here are the rules:

1. The first 3 people to visit my blog & leave a comment here on this post saying they want to participate will receive a homemade gift from me. You are allowed 1 year (according to the rules) in which to send out the gift, but I plan on making something & sending it on much sooner than that.

2. You must have a blog of your own to participate in the PIF.

3. You must post about the PIF on your blog & you must offer the challenge of a PIF.By accepting my PIF, YOU agree to host a PIF on your blog, you will agree to send a homemade gift (within 1 year) to the first 3 people who sign up on your blog to participate in your PIF & so it continues.

So come on and Pay It Forward with me!!!

Jennifer

When The Pig Flies is on Ebay

I decided to go ahead and put the items I am selling on Ebay instead of the other blog. Too much time involved in keeping up with two blogs and it is easier to handle the business side of things this way. So I will update more when I go through my room again, hopefully in the next couple days. I added a couple more books I had forgotten about. If you are interested in taking a peak you can go to My Ebay.

Thanks Jennifer

Update on Cameron

I wanted to give a little update on Evette's son Cameron. My friend Sharon was able to spend some time with the family while he was in surgery yesterday and called me afterward to fill me in. She said all went well but he still has a long road ahead so he is still in need of our thoughts and prayers. Thank you for keeping them close to your heart!

Jennifer

Cameron

I wanted to post a request for prayers and strength. My friend Evette's 21 year old son Cameron was in an accident Saturday night and is in Intensive Care, I ask that you keep him and the family in your thoughts and prayers in hopes he will pull through this. Thank you.

Jennifer

Yardsale Has Begun!!!

Okay, I am sad to say I have taken the plunge – the “Craft Studio Cleanup” has begun.   I started with something easy though, books. I now have a selling blog and you can view what I have available from the beginning of my “Craft Studio Cleanup”  here. It was not easy for me but there is no reason to have all that I do and I feel the need to pare down.  Almost like I need  a cleansing from all of the excess or something. Weird, anyway, I started with my books. I am not sure what will be next, baby steps, I need to take baby steps.

I only made one thing today, a little zipper pouch, a co-worker requested a zipper pouch, so I whipped one up today. I actually want to keep it, Natalie wants to keep it, Alice wants to keep it, Gordon said he would want to keep it also but it is too girly. So I have a feeling we will be going on a zipper pouch extravaganza soon.  I have always shied away from zippers, I was very intimidated by them, that is why a zipper pouch is such a big deal for me. So now I am not afraid, bring on the zippers!!

    

I thought it was clever of Natalie, she said she would take a picture of it for me and took it into her room. She only returned with the camera. Like I wouldn’t notice!

I hope you are having a super weekend and getting some needle work done!!

Jennifer

Another Giveaway from another great Artist & Blogger!!

Is he not the cutest little guy ever??

Go over to Mouse Droppings , Susan has the most wonderful little animals for sale and takes beautiful photographs. Enter the giveaway and don’t forget to look around on her blog at her amazing critters!!

Off to bed for me!!

Jennifer

More Halloween!!

We were busy last night, and I say we because the kids were helping out. We use to craft every Friday night but we sort of stopped after I starting working more hours so it was nice to do it again. Although, it is very difficult to tell them when we are making something to sell that it may look better in our house (if you know what I mean). They enjoy making things just as much as I do.   We did a lot of painting. We were not able to finish everything we painted but we had a good start. Here is what is complete:

 

As you can see I tried to add a fancy backdrop, I know it is not so fancy but it looked good in person.

We finished four pair of Witch Boots, one of which did not make it in this picture. I drew the boot pattern out and just filled them up.

A cute little cat with his own bird. The pattern is by Moonchild’s  Primitives.

A stitchery pillow, stitched by me.

A stitchery pillow stitched by Natalie.

Wall pockets, one by Natalie (orange one) and one by me.

And of course, a special something from Gordon. Never leave a glue gun with a bored little boy. He made some type of stick tree with a rusty bell on top and it is standing in a pile of glue on the fabric scrap. Nice.

All for now. I will probably be quiet for the next 3-4 days while I work in the real world, ugh! Have a great weekend!!!

Jennifer