Rain

Finally we have rain. It has rained for three days now. I am so happy. This has been the first year our grass has made it through August and then September came and we got no rain and the grass started dying. Oh well, next year it will be a little stronger.

I have been really good about buying fabric lately. The only fabric I have purchased was muslin, which as my husband says, it something I cannot go without. I will not argue with him, even just buying muslin felt like a big treat. I bought a entire bolt (it will get used up in no time) and the newness of it was lovely. I have just been staring at it for days now. I will take what I can at this point.

As you know my other weakness is books. It seems so many new books are coming out lately and I want them all. I had to say no to several for the time being but I had pre-ordered many from Amazon and have had to go back in and cancel some. I was like an addict, couldn’t get my fabric fix so I replaced it with books. Anyway, one of the pre-orders I kept was Vicki Bellino’s “Bloom Creek” (http://www.bloomcreek.com). It has some great projects in it.

I also got a new pattern from Sweet Meadows Farm called “Farmers Field Pumpkins”. I could not resist this pattern. he pumpkins are very realistic. I said I was finished with fall items but I might have to just do several of these.

I have been busy working on Christmas items for shows coming up. I am trying to do half Primitive items and then some more bright and whimsical items.

Here are just a few shots of some of the items I have been doing:

I love the Winter/Christmas season and I am having a ball working on my projects.  I have to work my real job a lot this week and next week, luckily I do have some nights in there where when it is slow I can stitch, but I also have to work quite a number of day work hours and I cannot work on anything but “work” then, it doesn’t slow down during the day. I feel very blessed to be able to get more hours but I also wish I had more time at home.

The kids are also having a time with it, at least Alice is, but it is just for these two weeks and then my schedule lets up a little. I always feel so guilty when the kids get upset with me for working so much. I think they understand that people have to work to pay for the things, we have talked about that. But Alice  is still a little young and doesn’t always understand fully, she thinks I can just call them up and say, “I’m sorry I cannot work tonight because Alice wants to snuggle, eat popcorn and watch a movie.” My little snuggle bunny, she is so silly.

I feel fortunate that I have a job where I can work hours when they are asleep or at school, it is nice to have the hours available. I think I have gone onto one of my ramblings again. Not quite sure where I was going with this. Maybe just venting, maybe just looking for some understanding or “I’ve been there, the kids will be fine,” something like that. The “Working Mother” guilt, I always planned to just be a stay at home mother and occasionally work part time, but it has become nice to be able to pay some bills off and get out of debt a little.

Okay, speaking of kids, school is out, I need to go get some loving!

I hope you all have a great evening, I love rainy evenings so I know I will. Rain+ nice comfy chair +stitching in hand + kids screaming in the background and being needy = Pure bliss!

Jennifer

And the winner is…

Jacquie of MafiosaGrrl. Congratulations Jacquie, email me your address and I will get it right out to you!! Thank you everyone!!

I wanted to show you a new little fellow I made tonight, it is from a pattern by Sandi of  The Olde Country Cupboard. Isn’t it cute?Okay I am tired. Off to bed for me, have a great Sunday.

Jennifer

I have been tagged!

I have been tagged for a meme by Mama Bear at Bears in Exile. Here are my questions and answers:

1. Are you a morning or evening person? Well that is an easy one, definitely a evening person, I become very creative during the night hours. I have always been that way. Thought I could have a sleeping disorder but my body just wants to sleep during the day and be up at night – that is just how I am.

2. Do you routinely go to bed at the same time as your partner? Uh, no.

3. Who does the driving when you and your partner go out together? Most of the time my husband, he does not like how I drive.

4. Who pays the bills at your house and why? I pay the bills even though he makes most of the money.  I don’t complain because then I know how much there is for ME to spend.

5. Do you still Iron? Uh, definitely no, unless it is pressing my fabric.

6. Do you use cloth or plastic bags? I  use plastic bags but I have tons of cloth bags to use but I always forget them.

7. Does your family still take a local newspaper? No, except for Sunday – my husband is the Coupon King.

8. Do you recycle? Yes we do. My husband is very  adamant about our recycling. Do not, I repeat do not throw away a plastic bottle, there will be consequences!

Now, the hard part, my questions. Natalie will be assisting me in this so I blame her for the questions no one likes.

1. Do you like quilted or super quilted – toilet paper?

2. When you use your sewing machine do you go barefoot, sock footed or shoes?

3. If you hear the mail person drive up to drop off your mail, are you excited and go meet them (like me) or do you dread the mail person?

4.  What type of music do you listen to? Do you dance if no one is looking? (Technically two questions.)

5.  Do you think it is worse to leave the clothes in the washer too long or the dryer?

6.  Is there a craft you want to start but have not and why?

7.  Do you like chocolate or dark chocolate or no chocolate?

8. How many cups or gallons (like coffee for me) of your favorite drink do you have in one day?

That is all. I hope no one gets upset with me for tagging them! I tagged Sharon, Carolyn,  Susie,  Debbie, Barb C., Amy, Heather,  Cyndy and Mary.

Have a great day and I will be back tonight with a winner so if you have not already post a comment on my prior post to enter the giveaway.

Off to sew – Have fun!

Jennifer

My 300th post!!

I am so excited – this is the 300th time I have posted and you know what that means – Give-A-Way Time!!!!!!!!!Here is the little quilt ready for a lucky winner!! I also took a photo of it on the table for a little visual for you – I made the girls hold up the quilt in the background. The giveaway is for the quilt on the table and just the quilt not everything else and not the one in the background – I love you guys – but not that much – sorry. So the rules are simple for the giveaway. Just be a follower – with the “follow this blog” button and post a comment on this post. Good luck to you and thank you for keeping me company(well as best you can via the internet) and I love you guys!!!!!!!
My husband bought me a bolt of muslin that has finally been used up and I need more. So I am off to get it and maybe a little something extra! Hope you find time for that needle and thread today!!

I forgot to say - I will draw the winners Saturday night. I think I told Gordon he could draw the winner so I will post sometime Saturday night with the winner. Good luck and thank you!
Jennifer

Cleaning Up

Every time I start a new project I have to clean my studio. I have to have everything in its place even if it means tearing it apart to start the new project.  I love clean and I like to find my stuff. I was going to be lazy and not clean first but I cannot find my twine/hemp stuff for my ornaments so I had to clean it up anyway. So I cleaned and I cleaned and I put stuff away and I still cannot find the stuff I was looking for. So I will have to buy some. I was really trying to use up what I have but the twine is the only thing I like for them.

I am stuck on one thing. I was going to stuff all the ornaments but I stuffed one and I am not sure if I like it much. I have not sewn them closed but I wanted to get an opinion on them. So, which one do you like better – stuffed or unstuffed ??I have been busy working on all my redwork projects: While cleaning I started also de-cluttering. I have been stacking my finished stitcherys on a tub that sits under one of my tables. I decided to look and see what was in the tub – Ugh !!– remember my Halloween projects I found in the tub in my room – this was worse – just take a look for yourself:Now I have to clean this mess up but I decided I am going to put together as I clean. I am going to finish every project in that bin – the mess will drive me crazy so I know I can do it!!!

I wanted to thank everyone who kept us in their thoughts while we deal with the loss of our little fur-ball Harry. So I will not drive you guys crazy talking about him, this will be the last time I mention him – I really wanted to show the pictures the girls did for Harry’s box, they are so sweet. They made these pictures to go inside with him. Gordon did not make one because he found it too hard to deal with loosing Harry.

This is from Alice – she wrote “Dear Harry I hope you have fun adventures. You will always be in my heart. I love you.” And she drew a picture of Harry, Snowball (he was our 1st guinea pig) and Pablo and then one of herself and Harry.

 

This one is from Natalie. They are so precious.

I need to get back to work. Have lots to do. If I could just stop watching this “In Session” court show on Tru TV – I just can’t pull myself away!!

Happy stitching and my next post I will have my giveaway!!! I hope to hear from you then!!

Jennifer

Recovering

What a stressful weekend we had. Harry sick all day Saturday and passing away Saturday night, his funeral on Sunday and work work work. I still have not recovered from our loss and the allergy attack from holding Harry all day but it was worth it, I wanted to make sure he knew how much we loved him. Thank you so much to all the nice comments I received here and on Facebook, I truly appreciate it all.

So I have been stitching like crazy, I think I have used at least 10 skeins of DMC 815 in the last 5 days. I need to go get more. I have gone twice thinking I only need 2-3 more and I keep using them up. I have not decided how I am going to finish the ornaments yet, I will probably work on that tonight.I have so many projects that have been put on the back burner because I am trying to get ready for the open houses, craft shows , etc. I am feeling sort of guilty that I have not kept up with the blocks of the month’s that I was doing and I have the Crazy Wool project. I will get back to those but right now Holiday projects are on the top of my list. I want to be more prepared this year than any other and I think I am doing well.

This is my 298th blog post so the giveaway will be any day now – I am so excited and I hope you are too.  Stay tuned!! For now I am hitting the hay, getting a little shut eye, counting some sheep, you know resting the old bag o’bones after of course I do a little bit more stitching. Have a great day and don’t forget to find time to pick up that needle and thread!!

Jennifer

Harry

We lost Harry at about 10pm on Saturday night.  There has not been a dry eye in the house since.  He will be missed very much. I will especially miss his squeaking. He was the best squeaker and don’t even think about ignoring the little guy – he would make himself be heard and tended to.  We love you Harry! And as Alice would say “Have fun on your adventures!”.

 Jennifer

 

Sad Day

Today is not starting off well. When I got home from work Harry (one of our Guinea Pigs) didn’t do his usual squeaking at me  when I came in the door and when I was talking to Pablo (the other Guinea Pig) he didn’t squeak either. I put my hand in to pet him and he didn’t react at all. So I have been holding him all morning and he just stares at me.  I am so upset.I am hoping he is just sick but he is about 3 years old so it could be worse.  I am awful when it comes to loosing animals, I cannot and will not even watch a movie or show if it has an animal being hurt or killed. When our older guinea pig Snowball died I was a basket case for about 4 months.

I am very allergic to the guinea pigs so my husband made me put him back in this cage because my eye was already beginning to swell up. I feel so bad, he needs loving more now than ever. But I took two allergy pills and I am going to try to sleep for a while then I will go back to the loving – I am hoping it will not be too late.

Ornaments – Ornaments!!

I am working on Christmas ornaments for a swap and to sell. I think I am loosing my eye sight. Everything is a big blur. A big red blur. I am supposed to be sleeping because I have to work tonight but it has been one of those days the phone wont stop ringing. If it was someone calling about something exciting that would be different but it is just useless babble – you know the “your prescription is ready to be picked up”, “we are coming out to do the quarterly bug treatment". Plus I got two for my husband because they had his cell and home phones mixed up. So I have been up since noon and I am going to be hating life tonight.

Natalie just got home and said two 6th graders on her bus kissed on the lips! “OMG It was so gross mom!” she said.  Yeah, keep thinking that way little girl, the longer she feels that way the better. She said she cannot believe they had their first kiss in the 6th grade. Me either honey – that is dis-gust-ing!

Okay – I need to go outside and wait for the other two little ones – have a great day!!!

Jennifer

Artisans Creating Outside The Lines

This is Jess of Little Dirt Lane, she has started a new Ning Group, which I am proudly part of called Artisans Creating Outside the Lines, she also makes the most amazing little dolls as well as other crafts/artwork. Go visit her and check out the new group also. I think it is going to be a great place to sell and socialize. There is also a link on my sidebar for the group.

Have a great one - Jennifer

Crows Roost Giveaway!!

I know two posts in one day but I had to tell you Crows Roost Prims is having another giveaway! 3 Free E-Patterns – whoo-hoo! Go visit by clicking on their name!

Speaking of giveaways – 7 more posts and I will have mine!!!

Jennifer

Where Have I Been?

Well you know it is the beginning of the school year, so I am currently being exposed to all the new school germs. I have a rough time with my allergies, I cannot afford to get all the testing done, insurance will not cover it, they would rather me continue getting sick and Oh! I will not get started with that one. Anyway, I have a rough time with them, especially since I share my house with two precious little guinea pigs (Harry & Pablo) who I am extremely allergic to. We have to ensure their cages are cleaned at least every 5-7 days or I am in the state I am in right now. I end up having a sneezing, eye watering/itching attack that usually last 3-4 days – I am talking constant sneezing. And then, if I am lucky, I am exposed to some new germ and get a cold. That is where I am today. I have been sick now for a week and a half or something.  My mind is in a fog. But do not feel sorry for me, it is my fault. I just could not turn down giving those cute little Guinea’s homes.

I found my stitching pile from last year. This is a pile of unfinished stitchery's or ones that were drawn out and not even started. My UFO pile of embroidery. I have the piles stored by seasons and since I have burned myself out on Halloween/Fall I moved to the Christmas, I can never get enough of the Christmas/Winter season. I grabbed some traced for redwork and completed them in between sneezing fits. Doesn’t it look pretty? I even found a pile of unfinished Tilda projects so I am also sewing those up, bears, elves, candy canes, angels, etc.

Had another great mail day yesterday. Two new books from my book club!!

I will admit I did not need the “Sew It, Stuff It” book. I can make pretty much any stuffed critter by looking at it but I could not get over the cuteness of the book, if you like making little stuffies this is a must have – too darn cute. I guess I should have said I do not need any new books but that just does not seem fair.

I would like to thank everyone who attended the Fall Open House at The Rusty Bucket in Apex. And I would like to especially thank all those who purchased my stuff and Pam and Mack for allowing me to sell at their fine store. I appreciate all of you!!!!!!

Okay, I have caught you up with me, I sure would like to hear about projects you are working on.  Drop me a email or comment and fill me in!!! Back to sewing – still have an hour before the kids get home!!!

Jennifer

Owl Sewing Box

Do you remember the lunch box I showed you the other day.

I wanted to use the tutorial I was telling you about but I could not find it in my studio and the kids were on the computer so I just winged it. I added a little more and my head is spinning with other ideas for them. If you want to look at the tutorial it is at the Minick & Simpson blog.  I used a hot glue gun, because you know I like burning my hands (which I did – have a blister on my embroidering finger as I call it).

Anyway – I am so excited about this. Look how it turned out:

Heather from Keep it Thimble is someone I know from when I worked at the quilt store a while back. She had said she bought some lunch boxes from A.C. Moore for a buck each. Well, I had to go see what they had and I bought 4. They are plain and a little bit smaller but I have grand ideas for them, my husband is even giving me ideas –I love how he gets excited about my crafting.

The Fall Open House is at The Rusty Bucket this weekend starting on Friday. I took one more load up there.  Last night my husband wouldn’t let me come out of my studio until I finished up some projects and to make sure I stayed in he knows how to press my buttons. He challenged me to make something. He said he wanted me to make a candy corn man. So I made Mr. Candy Korn:

My husband loves the little guy, he said it was exactly as he imagined him. My picture is not very good but look what he looks like in the store:

I made lots of cats. These came from seeing Junkyard Cat by Catnap Primitives.  She has some fantastic patterns.

This is just some little cat guy and a little candy corn and a ghost that resembles Patrick Star from Spongebob Squarepants.:

 

I put ornies in the little treat bags I had shown you before.

 

And I made 4 more pair of Witch Boots.

 

I also have realized I am allergic to Sweet Annie. Yes, not good since I use it in my crafts. But I will live, not the only thing I live with that I am allergic to.

Well  I am off.  I feel much better since I finished some things up and I am ready to start for the next event which will be October 23rd.  I was invited by a friend to join in a porch sale and I will provide more information later for you local gals.

Have fun stitching!!!

Jennifer

Mail Call!

Pick me – Pick me!!!

Yes – I was picked!!!

No I did not win a giveaway – that never happens. But, I received a package today, a little one but one with a whole lot of fun inside. What is it you ask – it is a book – a very nice book, a book I have been waiting on for some time. “It’s Quilting Cats & Dogs” by Lynette Anderson, it is so pretty inside, I love all the projects. I am not a big fan of cats, I do not hate any animal but a cat would not be on the top of my list of “gotta get one of those” pets. But I want to make even the cat projects, she makes them look so cute. I love Lynette Anderson’s style, her fabric choices are right up my alley. Love, love, love this one.

Several weeks ago I received the new book by Barri Sue Gaudet (Bareroots) called “Quilt a Gift", it is also fabulous. I work a lot with wool and this book uses wool but it uses wool felt, not felted wool (big difference).

So now it looks as though I might have to make a little spot in my studio for wool felt. I have some that has been given to me by generous friends for my kids to use, but it too is not like what is used in this book.  I will have to do some searching. I have seen wool felt at JoAnns and A.C.Moore but not what I am looking for. This is the first project I want to do – can you believe it is only 25” X 21”, oh my goodness – it is too cute!

I was supposed to be working on the rest of the Halloween projects as I told you before. But I have done everything but.  I tried again to straighten embroidery floss. I have so many different kinds, and they are in so many different places.  Yesterday I was try to figure out why my muscles in my shoulder were hurting, then I figured it out, it was from wrapping floss onto cards. Heehee. Who says I don’t work out.  I have the best shoulders in town – well at least my right one!! So here is what I have been doing:

I have been in a cleaning out mood lately. I have been watching many episodes of the “Hoarders” on A&E channel. It is killing me. I want to clean out, clean up, pare down, etc, etc. I get that way after I watch it, I think that is why my husband lets me watch it undisturbed. He is sneaky!

My mother was a  hoarder. But a closet hoarder. I mean she had every available space filled with something, nothing, stuff, stuff in everything, stuff under everything. Her house was clean but she had the “stuff” hidden everywhere. I am looking at my thread picture above thinking I might have got that trait from her. She had this apothecary type table she got when she was in Korea and every drawer was filled, there had to be over a hundred little drawers in this thing. One drawer would have little erasers, another pencils, another safety pins, Exacto knives, etc, etc. She had the largest collection of Exacto knives I have ever seen, they were everywhere, in the table, in the desk drawers, in little stacking boxes around the house. I cannot explain to you how “crazy” she was about filling all available spaces but she was. She had boxes like this all over her house:

And inside of them, insignificant stuff like this:

 

She did not sew, or make jewelry, but she had little boxes full of the stuff everywhere.  Occasionally, 6 months after one of my kids birthdays or 4 months after Christmas she would send us boxes of these boxes. Why – I don’t know – maybe she ran out of room at home or maybe it was just her way of sharing.

I did not know my mother well. Growing up we did not get a long and when I was mature enough to get a long or tolerate her,  she was dying or on so many pain killers she never could remember what we had talked about the last time to know we could talk about something else besides the fact that she was dying.

I wonder sometimes what her plans were when I go through these boxes she sent. Was she picking out the stuff for me or what? Had she planned on one day making something with all this stuff?  I will never know.  Her last week of life I was there, I stayed in her house with her as she lay dying.  I went through room after room of stuff like in the picture above, trying to help her husband out for when the time came, but it was useless – there was too much for me to go through in the time I had down there. It made me sad, and it makes me sad now, to know she had this compulsion to keep all this meaningless stuff. I believe she was filling a void, like the people on the show “Hoarders”. Why can’t they see what they are doing.

I don’t know where I was going with this conversation – but I think I got off track. I was going to erase all that I just typed but decided to leave it, maybe someone can relate, maybe someone has all the answers!!

Now that I am in this melancholy mood I guess I will tackle the kids homework – that should cheer me up!! LOL

10 more posts and I can have my giveaway!!!  If I am good that could be just 10 more days!!

Have a great day!!

Jennifer

Johnny Rotten??

No! – Mommy is spoiled rotten!

For those who do not know who Johnny Rotten(John Lydon) is he was the lead singer of the Sex Pistols and if you do not know who the Sex Pistols were than just ignore my rambling.

When I came home from work on Friday my husband had this sitting on my sewing room table:

Since Alice took my other on he got me one – which, can you believe it, Alice has in her room. One day I will have both of them, she will not want them anymore and they will be mine all mine!!

Today we all went shopping. Instead of having a cookout for the Labor Day holiday we decided to do a little shopping.  We went to Old Navy, Borders, Target and everything in between.  I got a bunch of goodies:

With the lunch boxes I am going to make sewing boxes. I saw a tutorial on line and I am going to change it up quite a bit and make a little one too – I think it is going to be fantastic!! The tube has colored pencils in it and of course my favorite – notebooks!!  I love notebooks, very weird, but nothing beats a brand new notebook to me.  Blank pages ready for anything!!

Before we left today I had cut the grass and the garage door was open , well we had this little friend sneak in and the poor thing could not figure out how to get out. It was a Hummingbird. Our garage  has a two story ceiling and it is too high for us to reach to try and get it him out. When we came home he was still in the same spot, so we left one of the doors open and later in the evening he thankfully figured out how to escape.

  

Also while we were at Target I learned something about my nine year old son Gordon, he does not like Target. His reason for not liking it is rather funny to me. He told us he does not like to go to Target because there are always crying babies inside the store.  Of course while we were there, there were crying babies, so he just kept saying “See what I am talking about.”  I told him he use to be one of those crying babies in Target.

I also got an allergy attack while we there. So my eyes swelled up and I was sneezing every thirty seconds. It lasted until – well it is still going on 5 hours later. This typically happens to me, especially since I cut the grass, I will be better in the morning.

We had fun together today, it was great having everyone in one place and the goodies are nice too!!

I hope you have a great weekend!

Jennifer

Quilts by Cheri

I am not sure how many of you are familiar with Cheri Payne but if you go to her website Quilts by Cheri you can see her designs – they are awesome, yummy-licious! Very folk-art, primitive stuff, wish I could buy every pattern.  Well she is now blogging and has I guess what you could call a quilt-along going on – it is called Soot & Ashes. I know – I don’t need to start another project so I am saving it for a rainy day or something, maybe. I still am not thinking too straight (due to this cold thing)  so I will have to get back to you on that one.

I have done a lot of chores today, cleaning, vacuuming, cleaned Guinea pig cages and gave them both a bath (they are quite upset with me). So now I am sitting around sneezing (I am allergic to the guinea pigs) waiting for the kids to come home. Not doing anything I am supposed to be doing, like crafting.

I have so many craft fairs and open houses to get ready for. I have a serious problem. I am rebellious – tell me I have to do something or give me a deadline and I freeze, no way I want to do something if I have to. It is a bad trait I know but I cannot help it. I was doing pretty good and then someone must have said something to me about having things done and it hit me, I shut down.  Any ideas? What should I do? This is all I have done this week:

Three little pumpkins, oh yeah and a stitchery that is now a pillow. Woo-hoo! – Someone help me get motivated!!! Please!!

This is how I feel:

Okay I guess I am done complaining.  Remember 12 more posts and I will have my give-away!!!  I am off to do some more sneezing!! Have a great day!

Jennifer

Catching Up!!

I have been a bad crafter!!! Oh goodness I am so far behind. I kept saying all this past week every free moment would be spent on crafting the rest of my Halloween items. Well, it did not happen, I have not done a thing. I did, unfortunately, plan yet another project.  I will not get into that.

So, this morning I am going to play catch-up – if I make it into my room. It is not going well, every time I go in there the phone rings or I remember something else I need to do. Ugh!

I just can’t seem to get it together. I think I am coming down with a cold and it has taken a hold of my mind. I can’t seem to get organized.

I am a little unhappy.  I ordered some Sweet Annie and Husk from a place I have ordered from the past three years. After a long wait I finally received it and to my dismay the quantity is far less than before and for the same price. I basically spent forty some dollars for twenty dollars worth of stuff.  I am so upset.  I wish they would have informed me it would be smaller, especially since this is the third year I have ordered from them.  Oh well, I will have to find a new place since there is not enough to do Christmas items, but at least I will have enough for my Halloween items.

Above is a stitchery I did from a free download, it is by Robin Leuschen of Bird in the Hand Primitives. I believe I have blogged about her site before. I use her patterns a lot. She has awesome patterns and shares many free ones. She doesn’t mind you using her patterns to make something to sell either – just give her credit for the design, not many designers will do that these days!

Anyway I have postponed my to-do’s long enough, I have to go – have a great day and I hope you have time for a little sewing today!!!

Jennifer