Christmas Gifts.....

These nine bags were made as Christmas gifts. They are first crocheted or knitted (large) and then "felted" in a hot water wash. They shrink by about 1/3 and have a nice tight finish. Fun to do and I hope fun to receive also.

Days Before Christmas.....

Not much I can show right now -- at least until after the Christmas gifts have been received -- but I can show a fun shawl I made.  

The chilly days require a little extra to keep a body warm -- so I made up (crocheted) a nice soft, warm, cozy shawl.  The top photo shows it finished -- I omitted the fringe the pattern called for -- don't like dangly stuff around my hands/wrists when I am typing, etc. This is a free pattern from Lion Brand Yarn -- if you would like the pattern, click HERE. There is also a free pattern for the knitted version.

I like this one so much I already have about 12 inches done on a second.

Pay It Forward (PIF) Gift Arrives -- Thanks, Maggie

Remember all the Pay It Forward sign ups that were going around about a year ago?

We all had a year to send out the hand made gifts for them.

Today the mailman brought a wonderful package - it was a PIF gift I had forgotten all about. 

Thank you so much, Maggie -- I love the pin and I have a very special place to use it but can't show until after the holiday as --- well, you know,  holiday "secrets" LOL.

What a delight.

Wonderful gift.....

I wanted to share with you the beautiful birthday gift I received from Lynn S.

We met each other online several years ago (time flies) and have had a special friendship ever since.

She took an old antique shoe pin cushion and refitted it with her lovely work.

Just look at the beautiful Brazilian embroidery Lynn has done.

Thank you once again, Lynn. I will cherish it always.

Yep, the snow came.....

Well, we did receive 4-5 inches of snow -- the first snow is always so pretty -- OK, we have our snow, next Christmas and then get on to spring.  :-)

I AM beading -- but with the colder weather, am thoroughly enjoying knitting socks - I just learned how to do it and just keep knitting and knitting LOL.  Here is my newest sock along with the start of it's mate -- should soon have this green pair to keep my feet warm. 

Snow is on the way....

The bird feeders have had a frenzy of activity all afternoon.  A sure sign that the weatherman is probably correct in his prediction of 3-5 inches of snow by tomorrow night. Cardinal's, Junco's, Sparrows, Finch, and the darling little Chickadee's shared the seed.  Was able to capture this photo of the Chickadee's.  They have such a happy song and are always a delight to see.  This year we were fortunate to have them nest in the hole in an old Magnolia tree - we were about to take the tree down when we spotted their nest.

The squirrels too were busy.

Blogging Friends Forever Award

Blogging Friends Forever Award

The generosity came from  Maggie R. Be sure to visit her Blog.. Lots to see there. Thanks Maggie for your kindness. I surely appreciate it.  Now I must pass this honor along.....

The Rules of this award are :

1. 5 People are allowed to receive this award

2 4 dedicated followers

3. 1 New follower to your blog who lives in another part of the world.

4. Please link back to the person who gave you this award.

So here are the friends I am passing this award along to...

1.  Linda at    Linda B ~ Threads of Love

2.  Dot at        Dot's Life and Art

3.  Aryd’ell at  Gypsy's Ramblings

4.  Arline  at    Arline-ABeadLady

5.  Hideko at    Hideko Isheda -- Crazy Quilting

Beginning of 4th pair of socks

This is just too much fun -- and practical too -- here is the beginning of my "Thanksgiving Socks" ~~ these are a heavier yarn but feel so good on the feet. 

I highly recommend knitting your own socks -- 

FOURTH PAIR FINISHED

I will learn how...I will learn how... I will.........

Still trying -- here is my latest attempt at 4 DPN sock knitting -- I love the yarn and happy bright colors -- now I just have to learn how to get the ribbing and tension right --- practice makes perfect, right? LOL It is a lot of fun, very relaxing and very portable.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Woke up to 30 degree temperature this morning -- a rude awakening that winter is close at hand. Glad I finished this sock last night (have to stitch toe closed) and today will get it's mate underway. Need to keep the feet warm LOL.

One of the things on my "Bucket List"............

Loved the idea of the "bucket list" from the movie (didn't see the movie) ~~ a list of things you would like to accomplish, etc. before you "kick the bucket".  My list is so very long I hope to be around at least another 100 years to make 

a dent it it.

Anyway, one of the things I have always wanted to do was to learn to knit socks -- great project for a beginner, right?  Well, thanks to the enthusiasm and encouragement of a group of special friends, 

I gave it a try.  

Here are my first 2 socks -- now to get their mates done.  I hope to have the blue mate done tomorrow some time, and then on to the multi colored/stripped sock's mate.  This is really fun and 4 double pointed needles is doable and I am having such fun learning. LOL.

November 10, 2008 ~~~ Finished mate to my bulky weight slipper socks:

Thoughts are with Dian.......

"I am always doing what I cannot do............"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"I am always doing what I cannot do in order to learn how to do it..."

In keeping with the above quote, 

today I went shopping -- 

take a look at the photo below 

for all the goodies I came home with.

Yep, my new "betweener" project will be to learn to knit socks.

Between my beading projects.

Wish me luck :-)

November's Beaded Doll/Pin (Beaded Art Dolls)

Below is my November piece for Beaded Art Dolls Calendar dolls.



When November's winter winds begin to blow - fly a kite and dream of Spring.


Back showing pin back and ultra suede backing

Celebration Give Away coming up..............

I can hardly believe that I am nearing 300 posts and 30,000 hits on my little blog. I hope you all have found some pleasure in my blog -- I certainly have enjoyed posting to it.  So, in celebration of these personal land marks, I will post a give away sign up as soon as either 1.  the blog registers 30,000 hits or 2. I post my 300th message. That should give me time to finish us a few UFO's and still have some fun with the Give-Away.  Thank you all -- you have made this fun for me.

Watch for the sign up.

Meme --- I've been tagged twice

I have been tagged by Arline and Lynn -- I’m not good at this stuff --
but here goes:

Seven things, huh? 
Man, don’t know if I can come up with that many but I’ll try.

1. Have lived in the same town all my life (with a short stay in San Diego).
2. Lived in the same house for almost 40 years.
3. Always have had a pet -- right now I have two dogs. My buddies, Polly the black 
Labrador Retriever and Munchkin, my sweet little Pug.
4. Played recorder with a group at a Renaissance Faire in Wisconsin for a couple summers.
5. Love to read -- usually read at least one novel a week. Enjoy David Baldacci and a few others that I run out and get their books as soon as they hit the market.
6. Love to receive gift certificates to Amazon.com for gifts -- there is so much there that I can always find something. Last time I got 2 huge spools of FireLine -- now that was a great gift :-)
7. This is something you should all know --- I truly appreciate all my online friends and have such a wonderful time on the beading groups. You all are super.

I will have to try to find 7 friends that haven't been tagged recently. It may take a while LOL.

Flea Market Find

Click on photo to enlarge

Well, it was worth getting up while it is still dark -- and heading out in the cold to a flea market about 25 miles from here. I was disappointed the gal from last month with all the beautiful MOP buttons was not there this time. 

I did find this box with MANY varied color cabochons -- and probably 500 head pins too --all for $3.00. The box was marked $6.00 but all of this dealer's items were 50% off -- I would have gone home very happy with just these, but then came across the beads that are laying around the outside of the box. The dealer called these "Christmas Beads" -- I thought maybe Mardi Gras beads --- do any of you have any ideas? They are glass beads and shown are two strings of them. 

November Calender Doll (Beaded Art Dolls)

I just finished the beading on my November piece for the Beaded Art Dolls Calender Doll Challenge.  The ultra suede is drying on the back and I hope tomorrow evening I can finish the edges and have her all done.  Then on to my BJP bird for November.

Here is #3 of the calender doll series --
November
ALMOST finished.

Sweet 16 to go....

Sixteen little bodies cut out this afternoon -- now a short time at the sewing machine to stitch them -- then turn, stuff and close and then the fun begins -- adding embellishment to this fun pieces. there is no real rush for these -- it is just nice to have something like this ready to go.

OCTOBER 9, 2008

Eight of the sixteen stitched, stuffed and ready for embellishment. When finished, most of the sixteen will go to the Comfort Doll Program.

Flea Market Munchkin

Munchkin went to a flea market with us --- she will only walk so far and she is far too heavy to carry --- so the little umbrella stroller we had left over from the grandsons came in handy once again. She loved riding around in it acting like a queen. Little does she know Polly, our lab, who is staying with Linda is having a wonderful time playing and running in the fields.

In Betweener

Decided to take a simple, easy to transport project with on our short trip tomorrow.
This simple (albeit time consuming) square stitch bracelet is what I'll be taking with.
The beads came from a garage sale and minus the Fireline the bracelet will cost less than a quarter.
I don't do much in the line of jewelry so this is my IN BETWEENER project (in between dolls, etc) LOL.

October BAD Calendar Doll Finished

Here's October Calendar Doll/Pin finished.

On to November LOL

October Calendar Doll (Beaded Art Doll Group)

Just have the backing and edging to do on my October Calendar Doll for the challenge on the beaded art doll group BAD.

BAD is such a fun group and there are always personal challenges, like the Calendar Doll, to keep our imaginations and beads busy.

New Banner

Boy, are these little birds hard to get a picture of. Wanted to try to get them together -- will keep trying, but with them as a banner it is incentive to get going on the next. (After I finish the BAD doll for October).

BJP ~ October 2008

Tonight I was able to finish my October 2008 BJP piece.
Here is October Bird -- She has Halloween colors being October and all. Her head and top body are beaded with tiny little clear pale yellow flowerette beads held in place with brown #13 Charlotte beads. The outline of the wings are lovely green silver lined beads and the center of the wings done with seed bead and bugle beads. Her underbody is peyote beaded in a shimmering orange bead. A fun little bird to do. If I can get a better photo of her soon, I will replace the one here -- too much rain to get outdoor or even daylight photos.

Below I have posted a photo of the underbody of both September and October Birds ---

Never Forget

In the days following 9/11/01 I created my 9/11 Angel. Tattered, tear stained and dirty -- Angel brought wings to those in need that day. She has hung in my sewing room ever since and each day I see her and feel that terrible pain -- and remember to live each day to the fullest and to remember to say I love you as often as possible -- to give extra hugs and to do all the things we sometimes think we can wait until later to do or say.

BJP ~ October 2008

No new photos -- just about finished with BJP October Bird.
The last bit is taking longer than I thought it would -- I decided that I needed brighter beads in order for the birds to show up in the grape vine wreath -- so October Bird is much more colorful than September Bird. It is hard for me to work in brighter colors -- don't know why, but I'm giving it a go and hope they will all work out well in the end.

More "Rotta the Hutt" aka Stinky ~ and Penny Rug Birthday Candle Mat

July and August were busy stitching months -- as have been the first few days of September. I must admit, I have enjoyed all the little projects I was able to finish.

This little candle mat I made during some of the hours sitting at the hospital or in waiting rooms. It is a little penny rug birthday candle mat. The pattern came from Prairie Point Junction. It is a sweet little mat and such fun to do.

Then there was Rotta the Hutt/aka Stinky. I have included some photos of DGS with Stinky. I think you can tell by the look on his face that this was a special gift. And it certainly was special for me too. These moments are so wonderful. I am one very lucky Mom and Gram

Star Wars:Clone Wars Rotta the Hutt / aka Stinky

On one of the last days before school began, had one of our younger grandsons with us for a long weekend.  I always have such a fun time with all the boys -- this time we went to the Star Wars movie: The Clone Wars.  After we came home DGS was going thru my bowl of dolls and he pulled out the “Idle Time” dolls -- said they looked (shape-wise) like baby Rotta the Hutt from the movie (hint, hint, Gram -- how about a green one with huge eyes and a big mouth) LOL --  so, to go with the Lego set for his birthday this weekend, he will also get Little Rotta (AKA Stinky) to sit on his shelf.

Baby Rotta (AKA Stinky) doesn't look a lot like himself -- but know the GS will love it anyway.  

Guess you had to see the movie to love Stinky LOL.

Here's Stinky with his travel bag all set to go live with grandson. I know he will be happy there.

BJP ~ September 2008

Here is my first BJP project piece.

September 2008

All 12 months will be little birds of this shape

When finished, I hope to place them in a grapevine wreath 

and place it above the fireplace.

I know this will be a fun year long project.

Scissor Fob Exchange

(Click on photo to enlarge)
Here is a photo of a lovely scissor fob I received in an exchange from friend Kerry in Canada.
Isn't it lovely? I just love the large open "bead".  Thank you, Kerry, I love it.

Beautiful New Bead Book

Some of you already know of Judy Walker 

and her breathtaking beading.

Judy is a fantastic beader, teacher and designer. 

She has a wonderful new book that has just 

been published (see photo cover above).

For more information, go to  JUDY'S WEBSITE  

there you will find more information about Judy, 

her book, and her classes 

along with many helpful links.

Greatest Gift....

One of the most wonderful gifts in the world is the 

spontaneous gift of a child.

Here is my lovely "bouquet" from my (almost) 8 year old grandson.

Another Beginning.... Free Form Bracelet

I was able to play around a bit more tonight -- have decided NOT to take this apart --it will be a good practice piece for the different things I hope to do. 

And who knows?

It may end up just fine :-)

And away I go again :-)  Off to try something new once more.

This time I will be trying a free form bracelet.  

Pictured is the very beginning.  

I think it will be must interesting to do.

Calender Doll Challenge ~ September 2008

This little pin/doll is for the  challenge on  Beaded Art Dolls Group of a doll a month for one year.

She is my September offering.  I call her "Falling Leaves", also known as Amber :-)

She is beaded with the lush colors of fall, bronzy golds, browns, green and her face and the leaves are of brass.

She has a pin back with a bale, so I will be making a beaded chain so she can be worn as a pin or necklace.

Thank you, my friends......

Saturday I went to my bead group meeting after a long absence. To my great surprise and delight, Toni, one of the beaders had made little doll bodies for the other members of the group and brought them to a meeting for the gals to finish as friendship/brighten your day gifts for me -- I just can't get over how sweet these ladies are -- and I will cherish the little dolls forever. After so many months of being a care giver it was such a boost to be given these little gifts and I thank you once again. You are the greatest.

And the winner is...........

The winner of the the pin/doll (left) is:

Arline

( abeadlady )

I  hope you will enjoy her.

Thank you all for all for participating.

Give-Away Thank You

OK, here it is.  

In honor of the 25,000+  visitors and 200+ posts to this blog, I will be giving away one of the little dolls/pins pictured.  Each doll is assigned a number and DH or DGS will draw the number for the doll to be given away.  Then the name to whom it will be going will be drawn.  All you need to do is comment on THIS  post -- and have a blog or some way that I can contact you if you are the winner.  Now, how easy can this get?

That's all there is to it --- comment on this post and on August 15th the name will be drawn.

I hope whoever  is the winner of the little doll/pin will enjoy her -- these little dolls have give me much inner peace these last weeks and I hope she will bring to you some of the same.

Thank you all for your support and positive thoughts these past weeks --- I wish I could make a "thank you" gift for each of you -- you have all been super.

Give-Away will be posted later today

Sometime later today I will post details of a give-away I will be doing.  Please check back.

My blog has reached over 25,000 visitors and I have posted over 200 entries -- neither of which seems possible.  I thought I'd have the photo of the "Give-Away" ready to post when the visitors hit 25,000 but I still have to take the photo --- it WILL be posted later today

WOW ~ What A Way to Start The Day

Ny niece let me know of a garage sale with lots of craft items including beads.
Needless to say I dashed over there -- and the photos show the treasures.
Lots of very nice beads -- and I also got a bunch of sequins -- every so often I want to use them and hate to spend for a full bag when I only need one or two --- well, today I didn't mind --- all these lovely and different sequins cost me less than one small package. All in all it was a fun morning.