More Cowbell, please!!

Sorry, I could not resist (if you haven’t see the old Saturday Night live with the cowbell skit you probably have no idea what I am talking about).

Anyway, is this the most awesome cow you have ever seen? I just received it today. I ordered it from Wendy of Ravenwood Whimzies and it came today. I am in love, even though I do wish it was a pig. But it does have so much cuteness. My kids came home today and it was sitting on the dining room table and they were all like, “Did you make it – is it for me?” No and no, I proudly told them, “It is mine!”. She also included this beautiful tag. Perfect to add a little Spring touch to a little spot in my living room.

If you are interested in purchasing the cow or any of her other items Wendy’s selling blog is here. Thanks Wendy I love my new cow!!!

The other day we all went to Target and you will not believe what I found. Okay, you will probably be wondering why I was even looking for it but I do not have a good reason so I will just say I am just a collector and that will be done.

And look at these – they are miniatures – with a Farris wheel – eeep!  I was very excited. I controlled myself and only bought the doll and these two, oh yeah and Alice got a mini one also. She better keep an eye on it though.

I had picked out my fabrics for the Stitch-A-Long but have already decided I am not sure if I am using them or not.

I got all of my squares signed and sent off for the Siggy Swap over at Prim Pals. And have another blocked stitched and ready to piece for the Gardener’s Journal quilt, pictures will be added later, I need to press it.

I feel like I am getting things done but still not at the pace that makes me happy. And I was just reminded by my husband and my good friend Sharon I only have 7 months to finish my items for the Porch Sale in October, which was such a blast last year.  OMgosh I cannot believe it, I have so much to do. Keep an eye open for new details as the months progress because there are big changes since we have outgrown the porch.

Back to the grind for me!! Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to find a little stitching time!!

Jennifer

Windy Thursday

First let me start off with a little house cleaning tip. To dust window blinds thoroughly open your window on a very windy day. Be sure to not raise the blinds after opening the window, keep them down. Then wait for a huge gust of wind and after scaring the heck out of you your blinds will be nicely dusted. Let me point out if you have allergies to dust you may want to leave the room. That is my tip for the day!

Oh here is another tip, I should have posted this yesterday so I would have known.  Here goes. Don’t think you are going to make your kids the happiest kids ever and be super early in the car pool line, an hour early at that, and then leave your lights on the entire time. Can you guess what happens? If you guessed a dead battery and lots of embarrassment you are correct. Yes, my kids are happy to call me mom, at least I didn’t forget to pick them up.

I have been moving at a snails pace lately but I have started a couple things and I have a made a little progress.

I am not going to tell you what these little gals are going to be. Hopefully I can get a little more done on them later this week.

I finished piecing my blocks for the Siggy Swap over at the Prim Pals forum. If you have not joined this awesome group of prim lovers you should go check out the blog here. Now I just need to sign them.

I also received my pattern for the Stitch-A-Long led by Chooky Blue.  We are using “Tis the Season” by Natalie Bird this time around. I ordered my pattern from Treasured Threads, I have ordered from Shannon many times and have always received great customer service. She carries many patterns from Australian designers and very inexpensive compared to some other places. Now to pick out the fabrics and start stitching!! Well, I have to finish the other one we had started first, maybe, heck who cares, add another project to the basket, a very big basket.

I hope you are having a great day and will find a little stitching time, it is good for the soul!!

Jennifer

Bunnys

I wanted to let you guys know I listed my bunny from Ravenwood Whimzies Spring Challenge on my selling blog. Click on the picture and it will take you there.

I also added three Bunnys in a Pot to my Etsy store. Click on the picture to go there.

I hope everyone is having a great day and hopefully we will all find a little stitching time some time today!

Jennifer

Springtime Challenge

I hope all of you have heard about Wendy’s (Ravenwood Whimzies) Springtime Challenge. Well, if you have not you need to jump over there and get started. She supplied everyone with a pattern of a bunny she designed, the body only. So here is mine!

Hope you guys are having a great day! Don’t forget to find a little stitching time today!

Jennifer

PAFA’s First Give-Away

The Primitive and Folkart Artists of Etsy are putting together an amazing Giveaway! Currently we are up to 15 Wonderful Prizes that will be offered to one lucky winner!

We will also be offering $5.00 gift certificates to various shops for 2nd and 3rd place and possibly even more.

So stay tuned, you won't want to miss this amazing chance to win some wonderful goodies from members of the PAFA team.

Here is my offering, it is a pillow tuck that measures approximately 5 1/2” X 8”. I hand stitched the bunny on osnaburg and backed the pillow with the fabric you see in the background (which is a Judi Rothermel Civil War Repro print from Charleston V, I love Judi’s fabrics). The stitchery pattern is from Primitive Blessings.

Giveaway to launch on March the 1st at PAFA. If you have not visited the blog please do. On the top of the posts is a page that lists all the members and links to their Etsy shops. Good luck to you, I wish I could win, there are going to be some awesome prizes for that lucky winner.

Bee Doll

I finished up a doll I was doing for a guy at work. His wife collects bees and he saw this pattern by Back Porch Pickins when I was going through some patterns at work and he asked if I could make her into a bee for his wife.

I finished her tonight and everyone in the house likes her but I an wondering if I didn’t overdo the sunflowers. The pictures turned out horrible. For some reason it makes it look like she has a mark going down her nose and cheek, but when you look at her in person she doesn’t so I am not sure what it going on. But, here she is.

I am happy to say  I went to my doctor appointment yesterday and he confirmed I am not totally crazy I do have an ear problem. Apparently at one point in time, this has been going on for over a year, I had an infection (I get a lot of ear infections) and it caused the problems in my ears. So I have to do some things I am not happy about to help cure it, like no caffeine (I live off caffeine), lower salt, water pill (believe it or not this helps with pressure on your ears), and some other things. I can also play around on the Wii and do some of the balance games to train my brain to use other ways to keep my balance. I also have a mouth guard for TMJ that doesn’t just protect your teeth but trains you not to grind ????  Apparently, the pain he believes is from grinding my teeth so bad, yes I grind bad, have broken a couple teeth doing it.  I go back in two months to see if all this will help.  My fingers are crossed it wont, no Mountain Dew, no coffee, what will I live for? Just kidding, I guess another way to get healthy.

Well, it’s early and I am pooped, my ears hurt and Natalie wants to know why I didn’t mention her in my post so I am.  I love my Natalie!

Happy stitching!

Jennifer

What’s New?

Hey all, wanted to let you know I just loaded new de-stash fabrics to my selling blog. Go check them out! I removed the other fabrics that were left and they are listed on my Etsy page. Thanks for checking them out.

I have also finished up a few stitcheries!

This cutie is a lot smaller than it looks. It is a pattern by Primitive Blessings by Twigs n’ Sprigs

The Easter Greetings is by Buttermilk Basin. Last year I did a bunch in red work, thought I would change it up this year.

This one is an older pattern from my friend Sharon of Liberty Rose Patterns.

I have been working on some others things and thought I would show you a sneak peek!

I did get a call back from my doctors office and my MRI was normal. This just verifies I am insane, or maybe one of the tests I have done on Thursday will actually show something they can fix. Because I don’t think you can fix crazy!!

Anyway off to homework and house stuff and maybe a little stitching time!

Jennifer

 

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Valentine's Day
Originally uploaded by stitchin.thyme

I hope you guys had a great Valentine's Day. We had pizza and Reeses Peanut Butter hearts. Nothing better than that.
I started off the day with an MRI after work. My goodness that was interesting. I cannot believe how loud those things are, I think I was in the machine for 45 minutes or better. I still managed to fall asleep in it. I will find out my results on Thursday. Hopefully we will figure out what is going on with these ears and head of mine.
Well back to stuffing, making a bunny and a bee. Can't wait to see them. Hope you find a little stitching time!
Jennifer

Swaps!

I received my doll from Gen of Ewenique Treasures as part of the Valentines Swap over at Rabbit Hollow Prims. She sent me the precious little Prairie girl (love her!) on the left and I sent her the little gal on the right.

Linda of Country Pickins, my swap partner for the swap over at Tammy’s of A Primitive Place arrived safe and sound, so now I can show you the bunny. And here are the other goodies I sent her.

Remember these were the goodies I got from her:

Kim of Blackberry Crows Prims, was my swap partner for the Lil Bit of Love Doll Swap over at Thimble Prims Studio. I showed you the doll I received from her on the left and the one I sent her is on the right.

I had so much fun with these swaps and received such wonderful goodies and met some great gals. If you have not participated in a swap you have to give it a try, it is a great way to meet some wonderful creative artists!

I am back to listing some more fabric on my selling blog. I just took 38 pictures so now I have to list it all.

Have a great night and don’t forget to get a little stitching time in!

Jennifer

When The Pig Flys: Moda Peace On Earth Yardage

Check out When The Pig Flys: Moda Peace On Earth Yardage: I already sold half of this yardage to one of my favorite and best customers, she left a little bit for you to check out!

Look What I Got!

I received my swap package from Linda of Country Pickins. Isn’t it great, I was so spoiled.. I will post what I sent her as soon as I hear she got it.

Here is a close up of Rags and Patches! Aren’t they precious!

I wanted to thank everyone who is helping me clean out my quilt room. It is really helping me feel a little less stressed to clean out a bit. Thanks gals – you’re the best! I have to really thank Mary of Quilt Hollow for sending so great gals my way. Thank you Mary!!!

Off to catch a little nap before work. I have an hour to nap. Yikes I should not have stayed up all day.

Have a great night and enjoy a little stitching time!

Jennifer

Prim Pals Spring Swap

We all know that everyone is ready for spring, so we figured why not do a spring themed swap!!
This is a spring swap not Easter, an Easter one will follow later!
It will consist of 3 items, 1 fabric item and 2 wild card items of your choice
as long as they are Spring themed.

You can do more if you choose but you do not have to!

Think of all the fun this will be, what a way to rid those winter blues!!
Sign Ups Taken Until February 25th and then partners will be sent out!
You will have until March 15th to mail your package to your partner with delivery conformation!
HOW TO SIGN UP:
Visit Us At: http://primpals.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=swaps&action=display&thread=2732

Or e-mail us for more information

at primouthouse@gmail.com or primpals@yahoo.com

Use "Swap Info" as your subject!!
Come Join The Fun!!

Swap Received

I am a bad swap partner. I had everything organized and thought for some reason my swap for the Lil Bit of Love Doll was due to be sent out by the 11th. Well it was due out on Friday. I feel so awful, I am so sorry Kim!!

I received my doll from Kim today and it is amazing! Super cute. Check it out!

Little Louise has been very spoiled since we lost her sister Thelma but I think she has taken it a little too far using my punch needle Pig pin cushion as a pillow. Who does she think she is?

For about a month now there is this little squirrel who hangs out just outside my quilt room window. I tried to get some pictures of him but with the rain they didn’t come out very well.

I am catching the family cold. I stayed up all day instead of going to bed when I got home from work this morning and I think that did me in. I guess I was due to be sick again, I mean it has been a whole month since I had the flu.

Well back to fabric sorting for me. Have a great night and stay warm, it is actually kinda chilly in the house tonight, a cozy wood stove sure would be nice to stitch by.

Jennifer

Moda Jelly Rolls

I have listed 13 Moda Jelly Rolls and 4 layer cakes on my selling blog!

Tons of Moda charm squares are on the way!

Check them out!!

Fabric Destash

Another angle
Originally uploaded by stitchin.thyme

Alright so I need a little input from you guys. I was sorting the fabric that I have taken down so far and I am wondering how I should list it. Here are some of my questions that I would love input on.
Some fabric are FQs, 1/2 yards, 3/4 yards, 1 yards or multiple yards. Should they all be cut down to the same size? Should I list in groups or individual fabrics? I have a lot that are from the same line but different cuts and I also have pre cuts (jelly rolls, charm squares etc) Should they be listed with their coordinating lines. I guess I will play around with some groupings, I just would hate to cut a fabric that someone may want 1/2 yard or more of. If you have any ideas please let me know, I hope to put some on my selling blog tomorrow.
I hope everyone had a great weekend and was able to find a little stitching time! Off I go, Jennifer

Guessing Game

I have a question for you guys. The items in these three pictures have something in common. Can you tell me what it is? You may have to click on them to look carefully.

Did you figure it out?

I will give you a hint. Always be sure there is not something underneath the fabric you are cutting because you may cut something you don’t want to. Did this help?

If you guessed all three don’t have heads – you are right!!!!

So sad, so very sad I was. But my kids each gave me a hug and my husband reminded me I wasn’t that happy with the colors I picked for it anyway. So I feel so much better now!

I hope you are having a great weekend.  Don’t forget to find a little stitching time and don’t forget to look before you cut!!

Jennifer

Primitive and Folk Art Artist Group

I joined the PAFA team last week and just completed my interview with them.  I was so excited to see it was on the blog today.

You have to visit PAFA and check out all the awesome artists that are part of this Etsy Team.

I can’t wait to see all the other interviews!

Back to the fabric mound!

Jennifer

Happy Thursday!

I finished stitching a small stitchery last night. My hands actually hurt from this one because the stitches are so tiny. But I do like how it turned out. Sorry about the picture quality, it seems to blur at the bottom.

Another day, another sick child. When I got home from work this morning I was greeted with the phone ringing, Alice’s teacher calling saying she had a fever. Poor kid. This is her second round with the same virus. She was the first one to get it in the beginning and now it has gone through everyone and back to her again.

I started tracing Easter/Spring designs to stitch. I think I have mentioned before I have hundreds of designs already traced on various fabric and I realized this morning after going through them I have no spring designs. Last year I think I was able to get them all stitched and sold.

I made progress the other night on my fabric de-stash. I started on the right of this picture and I have touched every piece of fabric in that section. It is so nice. I have come to realize it is very hard to pick stuff to get rid of, I want to keep it all but I need this cleansing for my sanity. I actually cleared enough so far that I may be able to use the desk part of the built in. There is still my reds/pinks/oranges/polka dots on the other wall but I am hoping everything will fit nicely.

Here is a really bad picture of one of the de-stashed fabric piles that is either going to be listed for sale or donated. I have not decided what I am going to do with fabric that I am not sure of its content, you know whether it is 100% cotton or whatever. The majority of my fabric is 100% quilters cotton but over the years people have given me fabric or I have seen something I just had to have and have no clue what it is.

I received a special package in the mail today. My father-in-laws wife is from Southern Maryland. Her family has always lived there. I showed pictures of a quilt she had found before that was wrapped in tobacco leaves. Well she sent me these sacks that they found at her fathers house. They are a thick canvas material and are in awesome condition. Too heavy for a quilt but they will make a great tote or something.

To show you the size here is 8 year old Alice in one!! And a close up of the detail. I received four of them so I have plenty to be creative with.

Well I am off, have a great night and don’t forget to find a little stitching time.

Jennifer