Mice!!

I wanted to show you pictures of some little Christmas ornaments I just finished up.

I only did 4 of these:

Here are close-ups:

I did 8 of these. Burlap on the front of the pocket and homespun on the back.

Here are close-ups of them. As you can see I used bead eyes on the brown ones. I had already done the tan mice before I got the bead eyes so I left them as they were. I will definitely be keeping one of these. I think I like the tan ones best but l do like the bead eyes on the brown ones.

I have happy news. I am not sure you remember me telling you about my washing machine. It was a Cabrio that we had only had for 4 years. For the past year it has driven us crazy. You have to pause and restart it about 15 times to start the load and then at about 21 minutes you had to do it another 9 times. It added an extra 15 minutes or so to each load. Well here is the Cabrio now:

Yes gone, thanks to these fellas:

Funny thing is one of the delivery guys also has a Cabrio and has the same problem. They should have recalled the washers but they did not, they offer to fix them but from everything I could find out it just starts all over again.

Now we just push two buttons and walk away until it is finished thanks to this little guy. It is so much smaller than our other one even though it holds the same amount of clothes.

It is weird though, I almost miss the other one. I relate it to child birth on pain medicine and epidural to no pain medicine or epidural. Without the medication you feel everything, you are almost frustrated because it hurts so bad, you are more involved it seems. With the medication, you don’t really hurt, the baby comes out, and you are like “Is that it?”, you are somewhat unaware of what is going on.

I like my comparison even though maybe washing clothes is not like having a baby, but hopefully you see my point.

I have been sitting around the house waiting for someone who was supposed to be here 3 hours ago and they are a no show, this is the second time I have set up something with them and they have not come. My day is all messed up now and I have to try to get back on track. I have so many errands to get done.

I hope you are having a great week and finding a little stitching time! Bye for now!

~ Jennifer ~

Busy Weekend

I have been trying my hardest to stay busy this weekend. I still not not finish up what I wanted to get done and tonight was my last night to work on projects. I have to work the next two nights so I will be sleeping and not crafting. I will try to get some stitching done when I have an extra minute though.

Natalie took this picture of my “oops” I made on my clip on ornaments. Isn’t he cute?

Here are the first batch finished. They will be great to clip on the tree or just about any where. The clips were my husbands idea – I think it is a winner!

This little guys is my favorite!

Look at this cute face!

I made bell ornaments that turned out pretty good.

Some Gingerbread men!

Another pillow stitched up!

I also have the first batch of stocking ornies from a pattern by Wooden Spool Designs. I love this pattern and everything in it.

I over-dyed and bundled up some candy canes.

My first batch of word ornies.

Do you remember the vintage chenille my friend Pam gave me. Well I made my first tester snowman with it tonight and I love him! There will be more of him coming along.

I made a little turkey ornie!

Finished up a stocking and a Santa head ornie.

I got a lot done but not nearly enough for my show that is in four weeks. I have a ton half started and a book that is full of stuff I want/plan to make. I am a little tired now so I think I am going to do a little stitching in bed until I fall asleep. We are trying out a new church tomorrow that starts a little early so I need to get some sleep. I will be working the next two nights so I wont be able to get much done the next two days.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend and enjoying this awesome fall weather. Unfortunately I think it is ending here tomorrow or the next day.  But it has been so nice.

Don’t forget to find some stitching time for yourself! And have a wonderful Sunday!

~ Jennifer ~

The Elves Are Here

I had my Quarter Seamer’s meeting on Sunday and received my next four Civil War blocks to complete. I cannot wait to work on them. My instructor gave us all a Miss Janes block she had completed into pin cushions as a gift. Isn’t it awesome. 4” inches of little stitches.

I completed come embroideries (of course)! A Buttermilk Basin design on the right and I want to say Primitive Stitches on the left (I will have to check on that – I can’t remember right now).

Gordon has been out of school sick the past couple of days with a cold. Today I had a good project for him to take care of and maybe release some “sick boy” aggression.

We have two computers that have been out of service for c couple years so I let him destroy them. Let me just say he had a ball.

I worked on an Elf doll order I had. I let them sun on the porch for a bit.

And then added the final touches. I am waiting to hear if they are what she was looking for.

I also sprinkled the two Snow Angel dolls with glass glitter and they are complete and will be listed on my selling blog later tonight. Both the elf doll and snow angels are patterns by Moonchild’s Primitives.

Well, I am off. I hope everyone is having a great week and finding a little stitching time.

~ Jennifer ~

I was able to finish up my Civil War blocks just in time for my class on Sunday. I almost made another serious mistake but luckily I had stood back and looked at the block before I began piecing it. I had cut the squares and four patches 3” (as you can see on the right in the photo below) instead of the 2” they were supposed to be (on the left). That would have been bad.

So here are my finished blocks – I am quite pleased and can’t wait to get the next batch.

Today I had a class at my friend Sharon’s (Liberty Rose Patterns) house. It was a colored embroidery class. I really didn’t need the class for the embroidery but she colors with crayon and I typically use colored pencils so I wanted to learn a different way.

She gave us a practice piece to do first. It is a free download from Jacquelynne Steves of The Noble Wife. Keep in mind it is not embroidered yet. Very pretty design.

Our class piece is a design my Lakadaisies (one of my favorite designers). First you use a white crayon and shade where you want color to be and then color it.

Here is mine ready to embroider, I will be using black floss. I cannot wait to start stitching on it. I will mention we changed up the ghost sheet on the little boy. I liked it more round like that.

Here is Sharon snapping a picture of me while I was snapping her. Oh to have that camera!!!

I spent Friday night cleaning my quilt room. I am having trouble sleeping at night (side effect of working 3rd shift) so I was in the mood to clean, not sew, like I should have been. Alice helped me a little before she went to bed. We dusted, moved, organized, trashed, vacuumed, etc. It is pretty clean but I still have way too much stuff.

How do you like this! I think it is time for a new radio.

I have my table started for the show in October. I have a long way to go.

Well, off I go, maybe to bed, maybe to finish those Elf dolls that are taking forever!!!

Have a great Sunday and I hope you can find some stitching time!

~ Jennifer ~