Monsters and Maddy

I have never, ever really been too interested in plush toys…..though the Ugly Dolls are fun and friendly and look easy to make. So both Maddy and Kaylee drew out a “monster” and then we sewed and stuffed them to life. I didn’t take a pic of Kaylees yet…..got to find it.

I did make Maddy’s a little shirt. Awkward body shape combined with complete inexperience in doll making and pattern making make for a funny fit. And making eye glasses for this guy would be challenging.

Our Joannes Fabric place has a bin off in a corner with marked down remnants of fleece. !!!Dangerous!!! So I got to thinking how easy it would be to make neck warmers. This way we could have a new, clean one, a spare, or even share them with skier friends…….like potato chips, can’t just make one!!

And here’s one of Maddy…..she dresses herself well.

Messenger Bag

Messenger Bag

It is school vacation week and my girls are off skiing with their grandparents. George and I are holding down the fort and quite lonely I might add. My oldest daughter has been carrying a backpack to school for the last 3 years, and she and I discussed that a messenger bag, that you put over your head and under one arm might be easier to handle. Second grade has not required more than one book, and one folder, so far. I hope she likes this little surprise I made. Ooh, focus on the bags, and not on the messy kitchen …please.

Some homemadeness

Well it is monday, the second day of the new year and our tree is leaning outside against another tree. It is keeping the other trees company before the ol’ heave ho. Between vacuuming and packing up santa’s I downloaded some pictures from the camera. I found the wedding/christmas gift quilt I made my brother and his new wife. I never did get a photo of it completely finished, or a photo of the back. Maybe someday I will remember to get one. This was a real challenge. It is queen size. I only used 6″ blocks but I still tried to make a definitive pattern with the colors. Each fabric used has a particular meaning to me. It is funny when you put your heart and soul into something it is hard to give it away. Here is the sweater I made my mom. I used Mission Falls 18/24 wool and the pattern is v-neck neckdown cardigan by Knitting Pure and Simple. Nice pattern. I made the bands with the seed stitch and used less buttons than they did. I also didn’t make it quite as long. I sewed in a ribbon band and the button holes. The buttons are not handmade but I thought they were neat. I also had great fun making stitch markers using polymer clay. I will try to post more things I made as I come across them. I am terrible about taking photographs. It is always too late when I remember I forgot to get a photo.

On the 12th day of….

Well as I promised here’s a santa…he’s a candle and I treasure this one dearly. He is very old. He reminds me of days of when I was a child and we had big christmas’s at my grandmothers house with all my cousins. I suppose I may have seen him there when I was little and that is where I get these feelings. These are truly christmas feelings, remembering family and happy times. Merry Christmas to all my cousins, whom all live far away now. On the crafty side, I actually sat and made some buttons yesterday. I have sewn them on a birthday present. This is a beach cover up thing for a 4 year old.  Here’s the button pic. Here’s the full shot. Thinking about the beach, when there’s nuttin but snow out there, is nice.

Monday, monday

Haven’t had much to say lately. Maybe the winter blues have set in early. With a blanket of snow outside I should be feeling all joyous and merry, but sometimes things aren’t always what they seem. Good news for me, I did complete one of my bigger gifts. I’m posting it hoping no one shows my daughter…she said she was cold so I just couldn’t resist. This is my first big quilt, that I think I did “correctly”. I am NOT going to get any closer pictures because there is not a straight sewn edge anywhere! but it should keep her warm. I did hand tuft every square! Don’t know if I will do that again for any quilt.