Last Day of 2008

Well, 2008 is coming to a close soon. Anyone have any big and exciting plans so that I can pretend to join you?! We're not doing anything. My husband has to work during the day and the weather people are calling for the "S" word. If I say it out loud, it may happen so I say nothing. I'll have to update you tomorrow since I'm writing this a day in advance; I have some downtime. Punkie is with my MIL for a couple of hours.

So, back to big and exciting plans. I got none. I'm probably going to cook dinner and maybe watch a movie with my husband once Amelia goes to bed. Real exciting. NOT. I did have plans to take a ride to Joann's since they are having a pretty good sale that starts on the 31st. We'll see how the weather is.

Okay, here are a couple pictures of my new plant stand and wagon from Monday's auction. I would have taken a picture of our awesomly priced bunk bed but I have no idea where my husband put it. I think it's in the barn. I just love the wagon. I love it when my husband surprises me like that. I didn't even see it in the all auction stuff. Good eye!

I bought myself this book off of etsy.com a few weeks ago. The picture on the front did me in. I love the bright colors and cuteness factor of the pincushions. Today, since I had some downtime, I took a ride to my local Salvation Army Thrift store to see if I can get any wool garments to felt. I'm ready to try something new. I did get a whole bag full of sweaters for $28.00, so not bad. But nothing in the pretty bright colors like on the cover of the book. I got a few black, a light blue, a pinky purple... a cream, a gray and an assorted one, mostly on the gray side. They did have some ladies wool suit jackets there but I didn't know if they would be suitable once felted for my pincushion project. And those were in pretty bright colors. I'll think about it and maybe I'll go back this weekend. Now I have to read on how to actually felt these sweaters and see what I'm up aganist.

That's all from me. Everyone have a marvelous (and SAFE) New Year's Eve and I'll talk to you all in 2009!

Happy New Year!

Jen :)

Stars and Stripes

I finished the Patriotic table runner for my upcoming ceramics Christmas party grab bag present swap this coming Saturday. I know, it's not Christmas themed but I'm tired of Christmas stuff. I have a ton of it and I know others do too so I thought out of the box and made something for the 4th of July. I think it came out pretty good. Again, I chickened out on doing a real pieced binding and instead did the quilt back wrap around trick. Yeah, I think I'm done with that trick. I ripped out stitches 3 times with this runner. Other than that and a few mistakes that I know are there, it didn't come out half bad and I'm pretty proud of it.

Here's a picture of Amelia helping bake cookies for Santa. She insisted that the cookies needed sprinkles. Who am I to argue?

We went to the local auction house Monday night and got a few things. I'm not into antiques at all so I normally done go to the auctions. This is the 2nd time I've ever been. But a local furniture/country decorating/all kinds of stuff store closed its doors over the summer and the local auction house in my area got the leftover goods so I had to check it out. I ended up with a pretty cool metal plant stand for $40.00; it's going to live out on my front porch come Springtime. The best steal of the night for us? A solid maple bunk bed for... wanna guess how much?? TWENTY BUCKS. You heard me right. Brand new, perfect condition, solid maple bunk bed for $20.00. It's going to go to my in-laws house in New Hampshire in Punkie's room as two twin beds instead of the bunk bed so that they can be pushed together to make one big bed if needed. There was a king size mattress and box spring that went for $200.00. A king size head and foot board, cherry wood, I think... $200.00. If I had the room, I was going to get a new bed. I'm just happy with our awesome score! And my husband came got home and told me he got me a another plant stand for the porch. A little wagon. I'll take a picture of everything tomorrow and post it.

One more thought... I got a catalog in the mail yesterday; The Stitchery. I have no idea how I got on their mailing list. I glanced through it before dinner. Some of the things are a bit too much for me but one pattern caught my eye.... it's called Up, Up and Away or Balloon Glow.

I just LOVE it. I think it's all cross stitched and not stamped so that's a LOT of thread. I'm going to think about it a couple of days but I think I may order it. So I guess I'm now going to do cross-stitching again. Of course I start BIG when I start a new hobby!

Okay, my husband is bugging me for the computer...

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

Valentine's Day Swap

I'm not organizing it... Dandelion Quilts is. Go and check it out and sign up! Should be fun!

I have some pictures to upload of another completed project. I will get to that tonight, I hope. Amelia just threw her baby carriage down the stairs so that she can play with it in the living room. I thought she fell down the stairs! So I think I better get off the computer for right now until my husband gets home!

Enjoy the rest of your day!
Jen :)

New Year's Resolutions?

Now that Christmas is done; I hope everyone had a GREAT holiday and the new year is right around the corner, has anyone put any thought into a New Year resolution? I have. I'm going to try very hard to quit smoking. It's a thorn in my side.

I had my first cigarette at the prime young age of 13 (peer pressure, gotta love it) and have been a "commited" smoker since I was 15.... I'm now 35. So I have been smoking for 20 years. It's has to stop. Not because it's getting expensive, not for health reasons (that's a good part of it). But because I want to be a better example to my daughter. I don't smoke near her or around her, I don't smoke in the house but she sees me doing it and it's pretty bad when your 3 year old tells you that when she gets bigger, she's going to smoke too. Not if I can help it! My husband is a non-smoker and doesn't give me any grief about my addiction (God bless him!) but I know he wants me to quit; even if he doesn't say it out loud.

So, that is my resolution. I have try to quit before and I quit when I was pregnant so I know I can do it. I have a prescription for Chantix; I just haven't filled it yet but I think I'm going to.

Wish me luck!

So? What are your new year resolutions?

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and festive holiday!From my family to yours, Merry Christmas!
Jen

I'm Not Done Yet but...

I'm not done with my Pennie Pockets but I thought I would show what I did have finished. I have 5 more to complete. I filled them with some Lindor truffles. I hope the women in my family like them. I like the fabrics I chose but for next year's pockets, I will use better fabric. I was pressed for time and I really don't have a holiday fabric stash yet so I went to Joann's and bought some yardage. I can definitely see the difference in these with better quality fabric. Also, the one hanging on my tree (no picture), I used a lightweight interfacing to give the fabric more body. I was going to do the same to the rest but I didn't for two reasons: I didn't know how they would pack and hold up after a year; I didn't want them all crushed and wrinkled looking. The main reason? I was too lazy to add the additional step! Hey, I'm being honest! Just too lazy. And if you haven't made these yet.... you need to! They are so cute and happy! Thank you to Monica (the Happy Zombie) for providing wonderful instructions on how to create these! Click the "Pennie Pocket" link above and it should take you right to Monica's post where the instructions are.

Here's my unfinished pile. The yo-yos are all made up, I just have to attach them and the buttons. I hope to have them done tonight. I love the Santa Elf and "Merry Christmas" buttons! I like them so much, I did a close-up for you. A bit blurry.... sorry!

I totally messed one up at the last minute so I do have to make an odd ball one for a gift for my family. I really like this fabric group. I making more to give to a friend of mine after the holidays. She knit Amelia a beautiful winter poncho - I'll get a picture of Punkie in it and show you. I'm making her up three of them as a Thank You. This fabric grouping is more her style. The black holly fabric is really sharp. I should have bought a whole yard of it. Oh well. Maybe there will be more after Christmas and maybe it will be on sale.

One more! I love this one. I'm going to hang it on my tree but this one I'm going to leave out all year. It's fun and happy. I'm planning on making more with this fabric grouping.

I also got Amelia's baby doll quilt binded. I chickened out on doing a real binding strip and all that so I just used the backing material and folded it over. It's not bad looking. My next quilt, I plan on doing a "real" binding. I was just not ready for it at the moment. I hope she likes it for her new baby that "Santa" is leaving for her.

And I finally got her crayon bag completed. I started it back in October and put it aside. Finally finished it. It is now filled with coloring goodness, wrapped and ready to go under the tree tomorrow night!

So, that's it. I have more sewing to get done before this time tomorrow. Need to get my house clean and some baking done. I hope each and every one of you has a happy, healthy and festive holiday!

Merry Christmas!

Enjoy your night!

Jen :)

It's Going to be a White Christmas After All...

I admit, it's pretty but I really don't care for snow. I hate driving in it. I hate how my car looks and feels AFTER driving in it. Like most of the country, we got hit with some pretty good snowstorms over the weekend. My husband was home all weekend so he and Amelia played in the snow. Building a snowman and sledding down the driveway. They had a great time! I was the official picture taker. You won't get me to play in the snow! I don't own the right "gear". I don't even own a pair of snow boots. I think I have a pair of gloves and a scarf around here somewhere (it ended up on our snowman!).

I did get some sewing done. I got Punkie's baby doll quilt done and some Pennie Pockets done for gifts. I'm still working on everything and I want to take pictures once so the pictures will be posted tomorrow. I'm really loving how the Pennie Pockets turned out!

Today is the official start to my holiday break. I'm busy in the kitchen making more goodies to hand out and once I'm done with that, I'm off to wrap presents and finish sewing. I want to get done sewing soon because my sewing room is a mess and I want to clean it!

Speaking of gifts, my gifts (from my husband) are under the tree already. My stocking is full too. I'm dying to know what he got me. On the top of my list was a "fancy new sewing machine" but nothing under the tree fits the bill, box size wise. But he tells me he's not done shopping so there's still hope!

If you get a chance, go on and visit Marsha's blog and give your condolences. Her father passed away last week. Very sad and very difficult, especially during the holidays.

Enjoy your day!

Jen :)