Christmas Blessings

A Very Merry and Blessed Christmas to all !

When I count my Blessings--you are all included, what a warm and loving bunch of people that I feel so privileged to have become friends with!!

Big Christmas hugs all around, and wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Now, I'm going to go and finish wrapping gifts and watching the blizzard blow the snow around!

Yup!! Still here!

Still here, alive and kicking! We are in the midst of a big shovel out this morning. Seriously, I think we are going to have to have a big fundraiser and collect monies to send our weather people back to meteorology school or something--lol! Saturday, they predicted 4"-6" of snow, we got 14". Yesterday they predicted 1"-3", we got 19"!

Our town, Duluth, is a loooong city, it sits on a tall hillside and runs along the point and shoreline of Lake Superior. All in all I think it's about 26 miles long (ballpark guesstimate). The storm that blew in yesterday and last night came from the east and blew strongly to the west and brought lots of snow with it. What is so weird about this is that we--who live on the WEST side of town, got 19" of snow yesterday. The EAST side of town only got about 4".

My hub recently got a rebuilt snowblower (rebuilt by a friend of his)--and was pumped up that he wasn't going to have to shovel by hand this winter. Well, on Sunday, he had his chance to try out his snowblower--but, much to his chagrin, the auger had been put on backwards and was pushing the snow away from the machine instead of into it! lol So he had to bring it back to the guy who rebuilt it (who is quite embarrassed to say the least hahaha!), who still has it-- and then guess what?? The second storm hit! He is soooo bummed! Poor sweety :o(

OK--I'm sure you have all been busy as little beavers--everyone getting ready for Christmas! Are you all buying HANDMADE this year? I hope so, let's get this world back to where it should be by supporting the people who are trying to make a living with their art/craft---plus you get the coolest and most unique things, made with love and care! Yeah--it's a win/win!

I was just notified this morning that I am featured in A Punkin Card Company's blog--go check her out! She is a real sweety!!!

I also had a blurb on B. Inspired Boutique's blog about a week ago. She has a beautiful blog, and a fun way of writing her reviews--be sure to check her out too!

Speaking of people who are trying to make a living *grin*, here are a few of the things I've been working on latelyI did up another fuzzy bunny--this one holding tags that read "love". I really love making the stuffies--but they take so much TIME, grrr! I really need to start planning for Christmas earlier (I know, I say that EVERY year!) lol.And here's my newest bagkeeper--Pretty Puppy--hot off the sewing maching! He is all done up in blues and greens. I will be listing him in my shop a little later today.
Now, here is something just ridiculous--I LOVE this fabric. When I bought it (about 3 months ago) and saw it in person, I just couldn't get over how gorgeous it is! It's really a different color scheme than I'm used to and I couldn't figure out right away what companion fabrics to use with it, so I stuck it off to the side. Welllll, it ended up getting buried in a big old stack of fabric and I just found it again yesterday! LOL! How is that for a flake huh? I paired it up with some rich and gorgeous charcoal corduroy and some vintage gold rick rack to make this GORGEOUS drawstring bag --I really think this is one of my favorites ever (which means, guess who's making one to keep?!)OK--this is the last one--I promise! ...........*sure, she doesn't write for over a week, and then babbles on and on, grumble, murmur*...........I was inspired by some ornaments I saw in an old Mary Engelbreit magazine to make this little heart with the black and white beads! In a fun, non-traditional color too. I think it'd be cute to hang on the tree, but this is one you that would be fun for a teenager, then they could hang it in their room for the rest of the year.

Oh, and one more thing--I'm running a shipping special in my shop for the next few days--you can read all about it in my Shop Announcement. It's always nice to get a deal at this time of the year!

Have a wonderful day!! Hugs.

The Week in Review

LOL--I just noticed that I seem to be managing about one post a week lately! I sure hope you don't all get sick of coming here and not finding anything new, cuz' I would miss you terribly if you stopped coming by :-)

Things are crazy busy for me--and I'm sure you are all in the same boat! Isn't it great?! There is just so much excitement that starts to build as Thanksgiving approaches. Got that big turkey taking up all the space in your fridge, pulling out all the old recipes, coming home with that grocery store receipt that's about 2 feet long!

I have to brag--my last shopping trip, the one to pick up all the Thanksgiving stuff-----------Saved $66.40 in coupons! Yup, broke my old record by about $8.00. I actually saved 42% off my total bill. Yeah, it's good to be the Queen. *takes a bow* Here's a picture of my baby in her first parade (and yes, she does LOVE it when I call her baby!). Isn't she cute?!! It was a cold (only about 33degrees) and windy night!

Well, I've been making lots of cute stuff for Christmas--wanna see??

Here's a cute Santa's Keys pocket that I made with material sent to me by Leslie at AlphaStamps--she asked me to be her guest designer for November. Beautiful wool felt, vintage images, and ribbons were sent to me--sigh--heavenly! Anyways, I made up this pocket--it has a key for Santa, in case you don't have a chimney for him to come down--and tucked in the pocket is a tag with a pocket (and another cute vintage image) for you to tuck in a little note for Santa!
Here's another little item I made up for Leslie at AlphaStamps--a pretty victorian inspired gift bag. It's made like a tote bag, with pretty cream and pine green gimp handles, that vintage floral fabric (that I told you about here) and the pretty sage green woolfelt and the vintagey victorian Santa image that Leslie sent. I love it--it would make a beautiful gift presentation and then can be re-used each year as a gift wrap or used in their holiday decorating.

Cute, old fashioned stick pony to hang on your tree! He's about 9" long. The kids really like these. I have to say, though, that making and attaching the mane is a big pain in the you-know-what! LOL Then there's this!! Not Christmassy--not really exciting, I mean, it's just a tissue holder! But I thought it turned out pretty and wanted to share!

Well, THAT was long winded--wasn't it?!! LOL I guess I better not wait for a whole week between posts (I didn't even post everything I had to show you, lol)
Take care everyone--and have a blessed and beautiful Thanksgiving!!! Hugs!

What's new in Whoville?

There is so much Christmas going on around here, it feels a bit like Whoville! LOL (Don't you just love the Grinch?!) I love this time of year, when things are busy and the days are just a flurry of activity!

Linds is so excited! She made the Dance team at school and their first activity is to dance in the Christmas City of the North parade this weekend. Yeah! She just got her big shiny pompoms and her outfit--and she's all ready to go.

I've been making Christmas and other stuff like crazy. I was going through some of my files and ran across this pattern that I designed a couple years ago. Remember the magazine "Country Marketplace"? Each year they would sponser a big ornament contest and I actually won the honorable mention award for this design. I wanted to make something that looked vintagey (and this was even before the vintagey style was in like it is now!), like it came from Grandma's Christmas collection. Well, I pulled out the pattern and whipped up a couple for my shop

I also found this lovely mustard star fabric--and it inspired me to make up a little country style quilt. I may have gotten a little carried away with the swirly things on Santa's beard and hat and moustache--but I think he's pretty cute anyways!

How about this--do you have a favorite Aunty who always got dressed up for Christmas, with her pearls and her favorite hat? This ornament was inspired by my Aunty Dolly.

I met a couple new people this week. Lauren recently opened up her Etsy shop. She ordered an item from me and we discovered that we are both from Minnesota, yeah! She also started a blog, and was sweet enough to do her first Etsy shop feature on my shop! yeah! Swing by and say Hi to her, she is really sweet!

The other person is From My Cherry Heart, she also has recently opened up an Etsy shop--REALLY cute stuff! Swing by and check it out! She has a fun blog to read too and is doing a giveaway so swing by there too and leave her a comment!

Well, I should go. I've been telling myself that I need to get to bed earlier--been burning the midnight oil AND rising before the sun! A gal needs her beauty sleep you know! Hugs to all!

SNOW!

Ewwww! It's snowing, big giant fluffy flakes. The roofs are all covered with a clean, white, fluffy layer of snow. OK--It's really pretty, lol! I'm not ready for snow. I HATE driving in the snow. I think it stems from the fact that I was such a late bloomer as far as driving goes--I didn't get my license till I was 31! So basically, I didn't learn to drive when I was young and fearless, but when I was older and more cautious. Whatever--it makes me anxious.

Guess what? I sold a planner yesterday--that cute brown and blue one with the dragonflies. So, I guess I'm not the ONLY old-timey gal who still uses a PAPER planner! lol This is my newest one--in pink and gray. Check out that pretty floral fabric. I was snooping around at an antique shop one day, poking around looking for cool old sewing stuff, and found it kinda smashed up in the corner, poking out from behind a basket of buttons. It didn't look like much, but it had potential and she only had it marked for $5 for about 2 yds of it. I brought it home and washed it up and pressed it--and it's gorgeous!! Yeah!!

Let's see what's on the to-do list today:::

1) Design a stocking for custom order--brand new little baby girl needs her Christmas stocking! She wants all pink, green, and white--I feel honored that she asked me to make it for her, to make something that will be part of her Christmas tradition. Yeah! It's going to be like this little ornament stocking, only bigger and fancier--and with some lace and her name embroidered on it OF COURSE!

2) Leslie, from AlphaStamps has sent me a big package of her new felts and collage images and wants me to put together some new ornament/Christmas designs for her to use on her website--samples of what people can do with the products she offers in her shop. This is a fun project and I look forward to jumping in to it.

3) Go around and change my avatars to this cute Christmas one that Sam made me! Isn't it adorable?!

4) Go to lunch with my sweety. He has the day off, and, he doesn't know it yet, but he's gonna take me to Mitch's for a big juicy burger! Oh, and HE is driving! lol

Have a fun day!!

Pretty Smelly

That is the perfect description for my new sachet--"Pretty Smelly" LOL, don't mind me, I'm just cracking myself up over here! ;oD It's made with some beautiful vintage lace, vintage velvet leaves, silk flowers, and that lovely vintage rhinestone button. It's filled with some really nice french lavender buds--(the "smelly" part!) It's listed in my Etsy shop.


I found this cute retro fabric with the dragonflies and daisies and just had to have it--isn't it fabulous? I've paired it with this aqua polka dot and made another 2008 planner cover with it. I really like these planners, but have yet to sell one--I wonder why? Even at the craft fair this weekend, soooo many people picked them up and oohed and aaahed over them, then they put them back down and went on. Weird. Is there something wrong with them that I don't see? Or maybe it's just too early for people to seriously think about 2008?? It's a mystery to me, LOL! (but what isn't? lol)

The fair was a BLAST! I had so much fun! I sometimes forget that I don't spend much time with actual flesh and bones people (besides my immediate family)--and it is so fun to actually get out and be with them once in a while! MY people--crafters, artists, seamstresses, and people who love all that stuff. I just enjoyed it so much. Yeah!
I've made up a few more of my little bird ornaments to list in my shop too--these look so cute hanging on the tree--and you don't have to put them away after Christmas either :-).

Well, I am going to go and read up some of my favorite blogs and see what you have all been up to!! HUGS!

Craft your fingers to the bone and what do you get?? Boney fingers!

Hi--it's boring old me again! lol I have nothing new to talk about. Just crafting and doing the Mom thing--as usual. I have a little extra running to do now--Joe joined the Academia Squad in his ROTC class and Lindsey just got into the Dance team at school--so proud of them both! So that means even more taxi service for me! lol I swear I spend half my life in the car. Another reason to love the portability of embroidery.

Trying to get ready for this show this weekend--which I'm really looking forward to. I go in with a friend--we get a big space and split the cost and just combine our stuff. Her and I have been doing the shows together for about 5 years now. Last summer she and her husband sold their home in town here and moved up to their cabin--about 5o miles from here--so I don't see her much anymore, AND it is a big deal for them to get to town for the shows. So, we are only doing this one show this year together ( I may do another one or two myself, MAYBE-- if I run across any that sound interesting). I may just hang in and see what happens with Etsy this year--I don't really know yet. You know, just flying around here by the seat of my pants--living reckless! LOL ;0D

Oh, and I spoke with Misty today--she is doing so well in her new place! It just makes me so happy that she is doing so well. Thanks so much for the prayers on her behalf--they have really helped so much!

Well, I'll leave with a few pics of some of the new things I've been whipping up. I will have to bring a lot of the stuff I have in my ETSY shop with me to the show, so if you have your eye on something, you may want to grab it now!

This is a 2008 planner--with a handmade colorful cover and lots of pockets, ofcourse!!Retro Verde Coaster Gift/Desk set. I reached back--way, way, way back--to my high school years , the 70's, for the inspiration for this newest desk set.How about some really colorful cuteness?? Another little tin bucket pincushion--in such a fun fabric, not for shrinking violets!

***a little add on--I've decided to run a special from today until Friday afternoon--10% off orders over $20. See my shop for details!***

Hooked on the Caps

Who else out there loves the cappuchino's? Huh? It's awful, I start craving them right about 2:00 every afternoon--and I KNOW they are fattening as heck! Dang!

Been busy trying to get things made up for the show on Nov. 4th, but also been having quite a few custom orders rolling in--so I'm not making as much headway as I would like! Oh well, I'm only one person and I can only do what I can do--right?!! That's what I keep telling myself as the panic starts to fill up my throat! lol

I've been doing up lots of little stockings in pink and blue.

I took a little trip down to my fav little antique shop--she always gets the cutest sewing and crafting stuff in there! I found these fun buttons this time--they are white milk glass and have a raised design of a grand piano in gold! So cute. I did up a crafting goody card with 2 of the buttons and some vintage white/gold rick rack and some vintage wedding dress lace--it's listed in my Etsy shop. I also did up a new needlebook with another patch made with my new toy! I did have a few people asking about it--it's not an embroidery sewing maching thing--it's just a little patch maker. I got it at a second-hand shop. It's really easy to use, and I think the end product is nice! The biggest problem that I forsee is that the thread cartridges are not refillable, so I have to try and find them online (I've found some on Ebay, and they are a little pricey, but I think they last quite a while each) and it comes with special leather like fabric that has a bunch of holes punched in them to hold them in the little frames that they go in while you embroider. I have been experimenting a little to see if I can somehow make my own fabric patches and save a few bucks that way! Here is what the machine looks like--Well, that's it for me! I'd better go get dinner going. Big hugs!!

Quicky!

A little late night quicky!!

I have been working on some ornaments--and did up this in some non-traditional colors. So now I have a big stack of little fuzzy stockings sitting on my coffee table, just waiting to be embroidered. There's a lot of stitching on each little stocking, but I think the end product is worth it!


Joe had his ROTC halloween party this week so we transformed this clean-cut handsome young manInto THIS!!A mix of that guy from KISS, Marilyn Manson, and Rob Zombie! LOL He was thrilled with his new look--and the fact that no one could figure out who he was under all that make-up! He won the best hand-made costume contest! He wasn't very thrilled that the lipstick didn't really wash off that well, and his lips had a definite rosy hue to them the next day! *snicker*

I was going to show off my new feedsack fabrics wallet and bag--but blogger is being a stinker and won't let me load any more pictures.

So, I guess I will just go to bed. Tomorrow our church is having their annual Roast Beef Dinner and I am the official beef dipper (5 years running now!)--They cook and slice up enought roast beef to feed about 1000 people, and I get to sit and put it all in hot au jus to heat it up---ALL OF IT! There really is a knack to it, too much and its tough, too little and it's cold. I guess I do it "just right" because I'm the only one Ron (the guy who runs the show) will let do it. I will stand there for 5 hours and dip beef--sounds fun huh? LOL Blessing to you all--and if you can make it to Duluth--stop in for a delicious roast beef dinner!

You heart me...you really heart me!

A few random tidbits today--first of all--I'm having SALE in my shop!!

All the drawstring bags are 10% off-- DRAWSTRING BAGS

These make great gifts for knitters and crocheters, you can put your yarn in the bag and feed it up through the top and pull the top closed--wah lah! You yarn stays clean and doesn't run away from you while you knit! They are big enough to hold the project while you are working on it too (well, all projects that aren't big afghans or something like that, lol!) Of course, they can have many other uses--gift bags, lingerie bags, pajama bags, storage bags, lunch bags, etc. Use your imagination!

Go ahead and purchase--put Bag Sale in the notes to seller, and I'll refund the 10% back to your paypal account!

Secondly--check out this cute little fella!! I just got an embroidery machine that makes these little patches. Fun new toy! lol I did this little doggy as my first project and turned it into this fun and colorful needlebook. It's quite a bit bigger than I usually make the needlebooks, so it will hold lots of needles, and I added a couple inside pockets too! I found this cutey feedsack that features little kids and dog playing--which I thought would be perfect for this project. He is available in my Etsy shop. I've also been working on some more of the little bird needlebooks--I did finish up this little yellow one and have it listed in my Etsy shop. I have a couple more of these in various color schemes in the works right now.

Guess What??? For those of you who are not Etsy fanatics like I am--Etsy has a way for people to mark and keep track of shops and items that they like and it is referred to on Etsy as "hearting" or "hearts". Well, I just received my 1001st heart! YUP!! I feel so flattered and excited by this! I am going to do something special in honor of this occassion--I just haven't figured out quite yet what I want to do--so stay tuned!

Have a great day!

OMGosh---Christmas is Coming

Yeah!! I finally finished up my wholesale order and got it off in the mail--here it is:I sell to the cutest online yarn shop--The Loopy Ewe--and she orders 20 drawstring bags and 20 knitting needle cases at a crack. She gives me full artistic license (which means she lets me pick whatever colors and style I feel like at the time) with each order, which is fun! It is really a challenge to come up with fun and fresh colors each time and the order usually takes me around 60 hours to complete. That is why I tend to ignore my blog for a week or so while I'm in the midst of her order! lol

My niece, Rissa, had her first horse riding competition this weekend--and she cleaned up on the ribbons!! Congrats Riss--all your hard work really paid off! I'm proud of you :-) I used to have a horse when I was about her same age (15) until I graduated from high school and moved out of the house. I spent many happy hours riding, and jumping, and just taking care of and loving my horse Precious. Sigh.

OK--who's starting to feel the Christmas season breathing down their necks?? Huh? Is it just me. I have a big show coming up the first weekend in November, and I don't have anything done. Panic is starting to rear it's ugly head! lol It's just so hard to think Christmas at this time of the year. Time to get in the zone! I usually do a couple new ornaments each year and I have people who seek me out at the fairs to get the new ones each year--so I would hate to disappoint them! So I am going to really try and get myself in the mood starting tomorrow morning! I'll have to get my Christmas albums out--and maybe put some twinkle lights out down in the craftroom!

I did get a couple new items made up today. I bought this gorgeous new fabric on Saturday, in a beautiful brown and robin's egg blue--paisley and dots. I just love it. I did up some of my checkbook covers and some bifold card wallets with the birds on them--which I will be listing in my Etsy shopI couldn't get the color right in these pics, but the bird is really a pretty pale blue with brown dots.

I also did up a pretty and girly drawstring bag in a peachy pink and blue. This will be listed in my Etsy shop too!Well, I guess that's enough gabbing for tonight. I have to get to bed early--Christmas is coming! :-D

Hi!

Just thought I'd better check in--I've been working on some custom orders (the picture above is one of the custom orders I just finished up), I have a small wholesale account whose order I've been working on, and I'm trying to get ready for the one big craft fair I'm doing this year, which is coming up in a couple weeks.

The kids just got done with Spirit Week at school--they are enjoying the high school experience so far! Can you guess what their school colors are?? lol

I worked on a new bag design this week too, this one has 4 good size pockets on the outside (2 on each side) and the inside is divided into 2 sections. A good bag for keeping organized. I did it up in a hot little houndstooth wool blend with a retro jacquard trim! Classy and sassy! It's listed in my Etsy shop.

Getting in the Groove

Well, I think things are settling in a bit--I can get on a more regular schedule. The kids are in school, Misty is in her apartment, and I have a little peace and quiet during the day so I can get back to my crafting! I try and keep a regular schedule --you know, treat my crafting like an actual job. If I don't do that, other things tend to take over my craft time. I try and put in a regular 6 hour shift in the craftroom each day--and then still have time to do the house stuff, like shopping and cooking and cleaning and being the taxi-Mom and the homework helper, and all that junque. Things have been a bit nuts the past few months, but now I can get back to normal, yeah!! I went on a bit of a bag-making spree this week--here are my newest creations

Old World Romance--with roses and cherubs and swirly scrolly things--and such a soft, pretty palette! Sigh.Prettiful Pansies--I love pansies! With their little sunshiney faces! I used some of that gorgeous rayon rick rack that I got from Ginny--and a pretty, pretty crocheted pansy that I got from Ang at Norththreads. So this one is pretty special--a lot of friend love going on here! Chintz Roses, vintage art deco lace, and a polka dot yoyo--need I say more? And last, but not least, is another stitchery that I did up "Prayerful Reminder". This one is based on a favorite prayer of mine--a little way to remind me to pray and listen. Here is the prayer--found in an old little prayer handbook that I found at a garage sale several years ago. It really struck a chord with me. Written by D. Sue Jones Horton

Speak loudly, Kind Shepherd,
Lead clearly the way,
For this once wandering sheep
Does not wish to stray.
Stay near, oh, so near me
So, most surely I'll know
That the path I am walking
Is where I should go.
Give deliverance, Kind Shepherd,
From the course of the foe,
To this wee clinging sheep
Who does love You so.
With Your constant direction
Guiding all of my days,
I shall safely abide
In the path of Your ways.
Amen.

Drawing winner!

This morning it was time to do the drawing to see who will be the winner of my "End of the Month Special"--custom drawstring bag! Yeah!

So I got all the names together and wrote them out on little slips of paper--

Then I folded all the little pieces of paper and put them in a hat and enlisted the help of my ever so helpful and smiley teenagersBut--as so often happens when dealing with teenagers--things soon took a turn to the goofy
Even Daisy had the sense to stay a safe distance from the Goof Squad when they are in action!But, in the end--a winner was named!! MargeryManheim is the winner! Congratulations Margery! Hope you enjoy your prize!

Alien Ham and miscellaneous other stuff

Well, this is your last chance to get in on the drawing--I'll be drawing a name in the morning for the free drawstring bag. So, if you wanted to get in on it--you better hustle to my shop for details!

We like to have a big dinner on Sundays--and my sweety always cooks them. I get the day off of housework on Sundays--and boy is that ever nice! This week he did a ham, and hub likes to put the pineapple rings all over it and makes up a brown sugar concoction with the pineapple juice and pours that all over everything and cooks up all up nice and yummy! ( I love that sweet/salty ham gravy....mmmmm!) I thought I had bought a can of pineapple slices, but what I had gotten was chunks! So, we just had to make do---let me introduce you to the "Alien Ham"

And the most handsome gravy-maker around!! (oh yeah--I'm a lucky gal! lol)

I made another little housekeeper bear this week--this one is a cousin of Mrs. Mooney--Aunt Bee. She likes to have a little fun with her name and wear clothes that have bees on them! lol

I just finished this new bagkeeper today and got it listed in my shop. I call it "Getting together for Drinks-old style" I did it up in turquoise with touches of red. Don't you just love these vintage patterns with the animated dishes--I never get tired of them!

KJ, from the Eye-dyllic blog, recently asked me to make a framed stitchery for her with a motif from a bag I had in my shop. She is a singer --and the happy little lark struck a happy chord with her. She was kind enough to do a blog post on it, if you want to have a peek! It was a fun project to work on--especially knowing that it was going to such a sweetheart of a gal!