Boy Bot Ball

Another Xmas gift make for our 18 month nephew. Using some recycled denim, vintage trim, and felt gifted to me from Jenn I made up this soft, but firm fabric ball.

The trim is only attached at the seams so he can get his little fingers underneath it.

The robot is flying through the air! Weeee!

Perfect application of rick rack for little boys.

Pictures were taken (on grandma's sofa at night!) after he had opened it up and it was played with by children and adults alike. I need to make more of these.

Ok, I am getting the whip cracked at me. I better be off. It's car maintenance day.

It's almost Xmas.....

and I'm sick! Blah.

I even had today (and tomorrow) scheduled as vacation days. I knew I would want these days to finish up my handmade Xmas. And now I don't have the energy to concentrate on sewing a straight line. For the past two nights I have been waking up at 3:30am and not falling back to sleep. But today I did-

• Make myself a lavender steam pot to help with the congestion.
• Make a shea butter sugar scrub.
• Take a very long (ran out of hot water) shower and 1) did a mini microderm abrasion treatment on my face and 2) used up that freshly made sugar scrub.
• Take some pictures. I don't have the concentration to sew a straight line at the moment and I have 3 projects I need to finish by Saturday evening.
  

Right... onto a bunch of photo's! (I think I sneezed between every photo. I'll spare you the photo of the tissue waste basket that is following me everywhere.)

Diana (who lives in Italy) wanted some floral fabric I was giving away about a month ago. She suggested we turn this into a personal swap. She offered to exchange crafting magazines. I was game. Not only did I get two very cool magazines (pics to follow) but she included some "make my knees weak" linen, among a host of other things. Check it out....

Linens and trim!

Gift tags, bookmark, and a button pouch!

And of course the magazines!

I love these ornaments made out of buttons!

And wouldn't this string of little booties be the cutest present for an expectant mother around the holidays? I need to learn how to knit/crochet this year.

And Advent calender perfect for the gardener you know and love!

I'll be making this at some point. All you use is some scrap wood and nail it to a central cross beam. Think of the possibilities!

If only I had a porch I could decorate like this. *le sigh*

Night Owl

I'm still kicking around here. I finished the second library tote I was planning to make. A little owl to match the bird. I really love the buttons I found for his eyes. My sister found the lining when we went to the thrift store Black Friday. I got about 2 yards for $1.50. Not too shabby.
Jeff and I finally processed the 2 bushels of apples that were sitting in our garage for, oh, about 2 months now. There is a french apple pie in the oven as I type, 4 pies worth of filling in the freezer, 5 qts of sauce cooking down into apple butter, and about 6 qts of apple sauce ready to can. I think it's safe to say our house smells fabulous. I think I may go outside just to come back in.

Sitting to my left are 4 loads of laundry to fold and to my right are a couple of pincushions to sew. I wonder which will get done?

To do list

• Hang art prints that have been laying in a pile for months... CHECK.

• Get Xmas tree and decorate... had to find decorations first but... CHECK.
• Buy PS3 Rockband package for husbands Xmas present.... CHECK.
• Give in to husbands cries to open present early.... CHECK
• Play Rockband all weekend... CHECK.
• Sew something... ... ummm... uncheck.
  

Nice Kitty

It's been nice having Critter around. Here's her story in a nut shell. We first were introduced to her at a friends house when she was a kitten. She really was a terror in that household. I mean, running ninety miles an hour only to jump and make contact with the back of the couch to use that as a platform to attach herself to the window screen behind the couch. Yea. She really wanted to be an outdoor kitty. So she found a new home on my parents farm. She spent a fantastic summer playing on woodpiles chasing chipmunks and sleeping with/on the dogs. She got along wonderfully with everyone. A few weeks ago my parents moved and I couldn't bare leaving her on the farm and my parents couldn't take her with. So now she's with us. Only now she wants to be an indoor kitty. She has seen both sides of the street and she has chosen "inside". She felt the cold winters air yesterday and didn't even attempt to make a beeline for the open door.

"Hello! I am a cute kitty!"

"Whatcha got there?"

Attack!

"This is fun!"

I also had to change my Etsy shop profile from "made in a pet free/smoke free home" to only "smoke free." It's a good change though. And I have to say, for being a long haired kitty she hasn't shed very much. Of course she gets brushed every night and she thoroughly enjoys every minute.

AND... I want to thank everyone who has supported me and my Etsy shop. I am so honored that you like what I make enough to keep for yourself or give as gifts. Thanks so much. I have an exciting project in the works and should be able to share after Xmas. It'll be fun!

Pincushion love

If I was a fly, I'd land here.

I am so glad I am not the only one who loves these little pincushions. I really don't get tired of making them. In fact they are a great project to complete while I am sitting on the couch and my husband is wrapped up in his Playstation 3. Emmy Lou found me via Etsy and has one of my pincushions featured on her blog! This is the first time (that I am aware of) that I have been featured. So YAY for that!

"Take me home!"

Sorry, I can't get enough of this fabric combination. You all must suffer because of my polka dot/sparrow lust.

Also, I was tagged by JenaVeve to list 7 random facts about myself. Here goes nothing....

1. I can see 12 different varieties of plants sitting on my couch. (2 of which are new orchids purchased at Lowes for $6.50 each and they were healthy! )
2. All my fall leaves and pumpkin decorations are still being displayed in my house. Where did I put those Xmas decorations?
3. I have 3 freckles on my lips.
4. When I go shopping at department stores I most often pick up an item and say, "I can't wait to see you at the thrift store" before I place it back on the rack.
5. When I wash my floors I normally wipe with hot water and use spray cleaner on dirty spots when needed. However, when I am lazy I am a Swifferer.
6. I made my own Swiffer pads. Fleece for dusting, felt for washing.
7. Our family grew by one a couple of weeks ago. Meet Critter.

Xmas progress

Xmas time is not a good time for blogging. Most everything I am making is being gifted and there is always a possibility that they may read my blog. Just wait until January when I can show off all my hard work!

But I think it's pretty safe to show this tote off. I don't believe the future owner will be reading my blog any time soon. It's a real basic design. Dark denim on the outside with a yellow polka dot on the inside. Top edge is top stitched and handles are reinforced and interfaced.


I had so much fun drawing out the design on scrap paper and then finding the fabric pieces to make it all come together. I like it so much I want to keep it. But I can't do that because I only keep my mistakes. :p
The bottom corners have been taken in to give a 2'' gusset bottom for lots of room. And I am giving up on taking good photo this winter. I am in a serious camera funk. You have been warned.