I should start off with some good excuse as to why I have not posted in so long, but yet again, I have no excuse. Life has been busy, along with my full time job I am still working at The Rusty Bucket on Saturdays. If you are local or looking for a nice road trip you should come visit the shop. It is a wonderful primitive country store. I shouldn’t say I work there, I mostly shop there.  A couple weeks ago I picked up this awesome crane shelf for our master bedroom.

Pam and Mack, the owners of The Rusty Bucket, are wonderfully generous people. They go on picking trips when they can to find unique items for the shop and on one of there trips they found this bundle of fabric homespuns all tied up with a bow. They had it waiting for me at the shop. Bright but pretty, right?

I have been making some things, not quite as much as I would like but enough to keep me happy. Here are some of the things I have made since January. As you can see I am loving the wool right now.

Anyone who knows me knows I have enough fabric to last me a lifetime. With this is a problem, how does one person use it all. I know I love to pick out quilts making piles of fabric and dreaming how good they would be together. I decided to start making easier quilts that go together quicker (that time thing) and ones you can really see the fabric. I picked out a fairly easy pattern and chose pink to work with. I am not a pink girl but I still enjoy pretty fabric no matter what color.

The pattern was written for a layer cake, thirty five ten inch blocks. I cut out two sets, thinking I would do two of the same. Well, I accidently cut them all wrong on the next step, so I had to go with a different quilt layout. I still have the second set of ten inch blocks and have not decided what pattern I will go with.

We enjoyed a couple little snow “storms” this year. I think everyone has in the United States this year. I made this little guy on my lunch break at work one day right outside my bosses window.

I have been stitching on this large pattern for a while using Presencia pearl cotton, I finally decided to finish it up. Now I am not happy with it. Some of the lighter colors do not show up in the picture very well and I am afraid they may have to be replaced. It looks much better in person but since I am not happy with it I have to change it I think.

We are having another Craft Fair at work, so I just started prepping for that. I am going to go a different route this time with what I make. So far I have these rice bags for heating up and freezing for all your pains. I need to think of a clever name for them, “boo-boo bags” or something.

My kids and I have a new addiction. The Walking Dead on AMC has become our favorite show. We did not start watching it until a couple weeks ago so we had to catch up on Netflix and Youtube. Now that we are caught up we just keep watching them over and over again. Of course our favorite man is Daryl, played by Norman Reedus, love him!

I even have dolls to prove it. No they will not come out of the package no matter how much my daughter begs.

I hope you are doing well and finding a little stitching time. Take care and I will post again soon!

~ Jennifer ~

Comfy and Cozy

My daughter Alice turned 11 on this month and one of the things she asked for was this huge stuffed dog. Prancer was very cautious around him in the beginning but now seems to enjoy being comfy and cozy in his lap.

Alice has been getting creative with coke bottle lids. She wanted to make some snowmen but we were out of paint. That didn’t stop her though. I think her ornaments turned out great! she had to stop after being burned by the glue gun. I can relate.

I stitched up this large pillow last week. It is about the size of a regular pillow and is very soft. I could make snowman things all the time. I love those little chubby guys.

Alice and I were trying on clothes at Target and came across this sweater. I wish I would have purchased it but I was trying to be good. I sure hope Santa brings it to me!

I met a great guy and talented wood artist at the last craft show I attended, you will hear more about him because we are going to be collaborating on some new projects. I sent him a picture (the one on the left) of some candle holders I liked and a couple days later I got the picture on the right. Pretty cool, eh?

Speaking of comfy and cozy, I met this young lady while working at The Rusty Bucket this past Saturday. She is an Italian Greyhound rescue. Isn’t she precious. I thought she and Prancer would make great buddies.

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

~ Jennifer ~

We made it to December! Wow have we been having some goofy weather. It can’t decide if it is going to stay cold or warm. That is North Carolina for you.  Two weeks exactly until Christmas, or so my husband told me this morning. I do not want to admit that because we still have presents to get. We will get them, I have no fear but talk about waiting until the last minute.

I made a few more items last week and took them to The Rusty Bucket last Saturday and I am taking a few more items this Saturday. I made this little wool candle mat, the pattern is by Penny Lane Prims. I bought a whole slew of her patterns. They are all so cute. I made a couple more wool Santas and some more wool ornaments also.

I stitched up another one of these because it was so adorable. I love it!

Our Christmas tree is on its last leg. We have had it for quite a many years so it is not surprising. The top part will not light anymore. I would add some lights to it but I am too lazy. We have plans to trash this one and next year we are going to start getting a real tree again. It has been so many years since we had a real tree. We will have to buy lights for it so I am thinking I will have to hit the sales after Christmas this year.

Alice and I have been making cookies, lots of cookies. This was our last batch. I am all cookied out already.  I think I eat more than I frost.

I attempted to make salt dough ornaments and I was not very impressed with my skills.  These four were the only ones to turn out from my first batch and they are a little sad. I still need to add some twine for hangars.  I may try again but I am not in a big hurry to.

There is one person/animal who is ready for Christmas. Prancer is ready for Christmas! October was a year since he was sick. I was looking at his pictures at that time and they were so sad. He has come a long way and doubled his weight. at one time we were praying he would make it to 7 pounds and now he weighs about 12-13 pounds. That darn Parvo has nothing on him. He eats everything and I mean everything. We were blessed to have Prancer come into our lives and I think we will have many great years together.

I hope your week is going well and you are finding a little stitching time!

~ Jennifer ~

Almost December!

Can you believe it? I think I am ready for it, at least I hope I am. Have you bought or made all of the gifts you are giving this year?

I have been busy, working my 9-5 job, working at The Rusty Bucket most Saturdays and trying to find time for crafting in between family time and all that work.  I have found a bit of time and I savor every minute of it.

I just had two craft shows at work. The hospital system I work for has them every year for employees to sell their crafts. I had so much fun and met a lot of co workers who share the need to be crafty.

I want to show you some pictures of things I have been making.  I love making Christmas items and wish I could do it all year round. There are just too many other cool things to make though. So here is a little sampling of what I have done.

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I am really not a fan of putting the images in an album like that but I figured since there were so many pictures it was the best way. I am leaving quite a few out only because there are just too many and I don’t want to bore you.

The family and I went to Myrtle Beach SC this past weekend and had a great time. We even got to go swimming. Yes swimming outside at the end of November!!!! We had a blast. Life is going great for us. The kids are doing awesome in school and at home, even though they could probably do a little more chores. Work is fantastic and I couldn’t ask for a better job, boss, co-workers. Prancer is still doing well, all though he is a quite spoiled little pup.

I hope you are doing well and enjoying life. Maybe next time it wont be so long in between posts. I have some great things happening I want to tell you about! Take care and don’t forget to find a little stitching time!

~ Jennifer ~