January 7, 2013

Today is the first day for everyone to get back into their routine.  I have thoroughly enjoyed this 2 week vacation; it seemed to stretch on and on, but in a good way.  I had to work a few days, and Mr. Crafty World had to work a few days, but they never felt like normal working days, I guess because we knew at the end of our working days we would be coming back to our cozy, post-Christmas nest.  I think the only one who will be happy about getting back to normal is Libby.  Despite  having four people in the house almost all of the time she never did get as many walks as she does when it's just me.

Now when we go out she can sport the fancy new sweater she got for Christmas:

The dog benefited the most from my pre-Christmas making.  She got a flannel quilt for her downstairs dog bed; the sweater; and a fleece toy made with three squeakers.  She was very excited about the toy and it lasted about half an hour before the first hole was chewed through it.  I thought that using polar fleece would be practically indestructible since you can't tear it, but apparently not for terriers like Libby.

I stitched a few cross stitch pieces, but only finished one off into an ornament:

I got thoroughly spoiled at Christmas with treats and books and all kinds of great things.  I did a lot of sewing by had in the lazy days that followed as we lounged around in new pyjamas and re-watched season 1  and 2 of 'Lark Rise to Candleford'.  I made a quilted coffee sleeve for my pretty new travel mug and got most of this little hedgehog done.

I also started some new crochet projects: a scarf made with them most gorgeous yarn I have used yet, and a ripple blanket in blues, greens and greys.

With the new year comes all sorts of inspiration so I have to carry my notebook around with me and jot things down or else I'll never remember it all.  If only there was enough time to make it all!
I don't really make any resolutions, but this year I thought I would like to write more letters.  There's something about getting a letter from someone that tells you all of their news on paper; not snippets of their life on social networks or email.  Sure it's not instant, and by the time it makes its way to you it's old news, but it's such a pleasure to receive.  I have ordered some lovely writing paper from Victorian Trading Co. to get me started, so I'm anxiously awaiting its arrival - by post!

Work has, of course, slowed down since Christmas.  These days I will be using the quiet times to make Valentine decorations for the store.  Good thing too because I really hurt my back yesterday and sitting down is about all I'm good for.  It will get better if I just take it easy for a while, and then Mr. Crafty World and I can re-open the discussion of moving a whole bunch of heavy furniture around:)

October 12, 2012

The Monster Blanket is finished - hallelujah!

It's called Monster Blanket because of this:

That's my three seater couch under there.   A counting mistake at the beginning of the project turned it into an incredibly long blanket.  On the plus side, it will cover all of you when you are lying under it.  No having to decide if you want your shoulders or your feet covered.  It can also cover two people sitting at opposite ends with no tug-of-war match.  The dog can even sit in the middle and everyone still has enough blanket.  So it's all good.  I'm still happy to be finished it though, it was feeling like the never ending project.  I already have the yarn for my next blanket, and you can believe it when I say I will be extra diligent about my counting at the beginning!

October 11. 2012

A few things I worked on in September and October.  I can't decide how to finish the cross stitch just yet; am trying to think past framing or small pillows.

This burlap and felt banner will go on my mantle next Thanksgiving.  Fingers crossed anyway!

My variation on an ornament from Glendon Place in the JCS Halloween issue:

A freebie from Sullivan's Floss.  The green fabric is actually much brighter than what shows here.

A free design from Plum Street Samplers.  I finished the stitching just before Thanksgiving Day and meant to post it, but the weekend was just too lazy relaxing!

'Gather' by the Trilogy.  I made fimo leaves but I like these better that I just found the other day.  I still need to stitch them on.

Some holiday fimo pins I have been wanting to try for a very long time.  It was a fun way to spend a sunny afternoon at the kitchen table.

The Monster blanket is almost done.  I'm not feeling well today so I plan on curling up under it and sewing in the rest of the ends and adding a quick border to the two short ends.  Libby is going to lose her cozy spot!

September 23, 2012

A few fall things.

It's taking me much longer to get my stitched pieces finished off than I anticipated, so I only have two to show today.
The first design was a freebie by Nouveau Encore Designs.  I was just at the site and it appears it is no longer available, but there are still some lovely free charts there.  What I like about the designs are that they have a very French feel to them.  The designer, Stephanie, uses motifs from centuries old French samplers to make up her work.

My second finish is an excerpt from a design in a Cross Eyed Cricket booklet called 'Falling Leaves'.

My baking attempt the other day at pumpkin scones was a success.  I tweaked a recipe I found here to come up with my own version that has an apple cider glaze.  I had one (okay two) fresh from the oven with some maple spiced coffee and it was de-lish!  They certainly didn't last very long.

Enjoy your day!

September 19, 2012

Do you remember these I posted a long time ago?

I picked these up off the side of the road in July.  I swear our neighbourhood has the best garbage anywhere!  We need new kitchen chairs and these seem to be much studier than what we've got.  I would have been happy to leave the stained finish and just recover the seats if all the chairs were brown, but as you see there is a rogue blue one.  I started off quickly enough with sanding two of them and applying paint and primer.  The problem was, it was so hot this summer that the glossy paint never really dried well, and you could always see brush marks in the paint.  It was also going to take three coats of paint plus two coats of primer for each chair.  Ugh!  Not the way I wanted to spend my summer.  So I made the decision to spray paint them.  Each chair took one full can can of primer and one full can of paint.  I used 'Heirloom White' by Rustoleum.  For the seat cushions I used fabric left over from my kitchen curtains.

I'm happy with how they turned out and I like the creaminess of the Heirloom White better than the B.M. Cloud White I was originally going to brush on.  My free chairs ended up costing $50 due to the paint, but I still consider it a good deal for four "new" chairs.

Our breakfast nook got an unplanned for makeover in the last two weeks.  The old blinds were breaking down so I picked up some new wooden horizontal blinds at Zellers close-out sale.  I thought white may have been a better choice but I love how the brown wood makes it feel warmer.  I also found a new light fixture at Home Depot on clearance.  It makes such a difference in there I can't believe it.  The whole space just feels cozier I think, just in time for fall:)

Speaking of cozy, I just finished two projects I can show you.  The first is a flannel quilt for the newest little arrival in our family.  I hope he enjoys having tummy time on it.

In addition to the blinds I picked up at Zellers close-out sale I also picked up lots of new yarn at 50% off.  I made this wrap out of a soft and bulky yarn by Red Heart yarns.  The colour is Antique Blue and it's a lovely tweedy looking blend.  It looks much better in person!  I think what I liked most was that I crocheted it up in four days.  That felt really good:)

I have also done a fair bit of cross stitch but I want to finish them up before I post them here.
I'm off to make pumpkin scones as I have been seeing them all over blog-land lately.  I think it must be a sign:)
Thanks for visiting!

August 7, 2012

Our long weekend zipped by and honestly I don't think I could account for my time too well.  Mr. Crafty World was on call all weekend, so we couldn't venture too far from home.  I puttered around my sewing room a bit; I didn't sew anything but I made a bit of a dent in organizing my fabrics.

I did get some cross stitching done however, and have a fully finished piece to show you.
This is a quick stitch from new JCS Halloween issue:

I finished it like they did in the magazine with the beaded border.  I used a small scrap of some starry fabric to finish the back:

It was really fun and I have started on another ornament from the same issue.  I brought out all of my fall and halloween charts in a bout of wishful thinking of all I would like to  accomplish in the next few weeks.  I know I won't get a fraction of the charts stitched, but it's fun to dream anyway!

Jenn

August 3, 2012

Today was house cleaning day and that always puts my world to rights.  Despite my grumbling every time I vacuum (it must be the high pitched noise that makes me crabby), I do enjoy cleaning my house - mostly because I have such a lovely house to clean:)  Anyway it is a good cap to the week and I always feel good that things are clean and orderly for another few days at least!

(Libby on squirrel watch)

We have celebrated two birthdays here in the last two weeks.  Both of my babies are now one year older; the oldest having left behind single digits forever.  We didn't have any parties this year, which I am glad of, because I don't think I would have had the energy to make it fun or have fun myself.  Months ago we gave the kids a choice of a party and no gift; a family outing somewhere; or gifts and no party.  My Favourite Boy opted for the gifts, and chose the video game Skylanders.  He's been having a blast with it and we have gone through three sets of batteries for that darn wireless portal already!

My Favourite Girl opted for an outing to Canada's Wonderland, which we took early in June.  Her birthday was yesterday, but we thought it would be much more enjoyable to take the kids out of school near the end of the year and go when the crowds were smaller and the heat index lower.
Yesterday while I made her cake she organized a little crafting party for some neighbourhood friends and made everybody loot bags with some things she found in the craft cupboard.  She had three crafts to make and then they each had a cupcake from the freezer with buttercream and sprinkles.  So in the end she did get a party too, but I didn't do any of the work and I didn't spend a dime on it!

These are the cakes I made this year for them:

Skylanders cake for My Favourite Boy.  Really I could have tried a little harder but he was super happy with it and that's all that matters:)  If you don't know the game at all the top part of the cake is supposed to be the portal that the figures are placed on.

A kitty cake for My Favourite Girl:

I forgot to take a picture before I put the curly candles on.  Have I said before how much I love sheet cakes?

These are the cards I stitched for them:

My Favourite Girl picked out her design: she's on a little critter kick lately.

I have been experimenting in the kitchen with things other than cakes too.  I made some melon custard puddings with cantaloupe melon:

...And peach crumble pie, which I haven't even tried yet!

Both of these recipes came from a previous issue of Everyday Food magazine.

I also got some stash!  I put an order in with 1-2-3 Stitch and got these in the mail the other day:

The halloween magazine is great and I can't wait to get started on some of the pieces.  Never mind  my other works in progress:)  Tonight I just want to put my feet up and stitch something that does not have a deadline to it.  No more birthday cards for at least a month!

Here is a sneak peak at my next project:

I'll keep you posted:)