A little something!

We have been going to my DH's Aunt on Christmas day for more Christmas days that I can remember. I always got her grandchildren something. However, the family has really grown and we haven't been able to afford much. So thanks to "Dairy of a Quilters" blog. The little stockings tutorial. I thought I've got a stash of Christmas material. Why not make all the little ones stockings and fill them with some fun candy. They worked up really quick and as my DH said the kids will probably like the candy best. But at least they will get something from us this year.

Merry Christmas!! Connie204

Almost There!

I have done all my sewing for gifts and today I finished putting together my yearly cross stitch ornaments for my grandchildren. I did a snowman theme this year. The snowman with the presents is for my 14 yr old GD, Joy is for my 3 yr old GD and the carrot nose is for our new GS. My oldest GD has her own tree filled with all the ornaments I have made her. My oldest GD has her own tree filled with all I've made her and every year she told me she looks forward to another one. I have been making Xmas potholders and potato bags as gifts this year.

Wishing all of you a wonderful Christmas and all my best wishes for a healthy and happy New Year. Connie204

First Snow

I haven't posted for awhile. It's been really crazy around here lately. Still looking for a job, like the rest of the country.

I still can't figure out how to move these darn photos around. So I will explain them one by one. I woke up to our first snow of the season. Couldn't resist taking a picture of the birds in the feeder.

A few weeks ago I decided to clean out some of my scrap bins. I need the room. I started with the flannel scraps from all the rag quilts I've made. I ended up putting together three baby quilts. The lime green I finished the other two are still in the works.

I have been trying to keep up with everyone here. I loved the little wallets that Katie made. My granddaughter (14 yr old) just wants gift cards. I couldn't just give her that. So here they are Katie and thank you. I also couldn't find any cute charms to fit the key chains, but still looking.

I'm doing another craft show next Sat. I may make some more of these little wallets and see if they sell. I haven't figured out what to sell them for yet. I've been getting the zippers for $.99 and I had the vinyl and all the scraps.

One more little mention. One of my dear friends called this week and she brought two friends with her yesterday. We did a quilt shop and lunch. It was so much fun and really cheered me up.

To everyone here, enjoy the Christmas season and hugs to everyone.

Connie204

A very sad day.

I haven't blogged for some time as it has been a very busy time. Although I have been trying to keep up with everyone else.

Yesterday was a very sad day, as we had to put out 17 year old Callie to sleep. She was a very sweet fat cat at one time (16lbs.), loved to be in the way, but when the doorbell rang she would fly under the bed and stay there for hours. So this is just my way of saying thank you to a very good friend and that I will miss her. This was my last kitty. I have told everyone "no more", but I promise that I will never say never.

A very sad day.

Successful Craft Show

I did my second craft show yesterday. I was very pleased with the way it turned out. I made some money and people made nice comments about my items even if they didn't buy. The weather was very, very windy. All the crafters that did come really had to batten down the hatches. I also noticed that quite a few people took my card. I met some other crafters that were very nice and they told me about another show in two weeks. I have put in a call to see if they have any spaces left.

I had to laugh when I saw Ann Hermes post today. I spent most of the day cleaning up my sewing space from the last two weeks of really making a mess.

So to sum it up, it made me not want to give up the ship.

Have a great day everyone.

Connie204

Baby Pillow

I've been busy trying to get ready for my next craft show on Labor Day. I decided to make some pot holders. My BFF (who lives in Alaska) was thinking of something different for her coworkers for Christmas. I told her I would make her Christmas Potholders and she could give them with her yummy Christmas cookies. So she sent me some pieced tops for potholders. Here are two that I've put together. I really like the reindeer one. I talked to her on Sat. and she told me to try and sell them. She would make more and she really enjoyed making them.

In the middle of all the potholders, crayon rollups, etc. Our 7 week old grandson was being baptised yesterday. So I put my sewing on hold for a couple of days and made him this little pillow. I placed a label on the back with his Baptism date and from his Grandma and Grandpa. My DH was very proud. My stepson is also Andrew. So now we have three Andrews, should be interesting. I thought it turned out great. Before I started quilting and sewing, I did alot of counted cross stitch. I hope that one day he looks back on it and remembers us.

I won't have alot of time at the end of this week, as my DH has a kidney stone lodged between his kidney and bladder and will be having a Liprotipsy (shockwave) Thursday to hopefully shatter the stone which is the size of a pea. Right now he's not in a lot of pain, just being impatient to get it over with. Can't much blame him there.

I do really need to make a quilt for a neighbor that has been dianosed with throat cancer. He has been going through kemo and radiation, not doing well. He is 74 and cold all the time. With the heat we've had here his wife finally gave in and turned on the a/c. After labor day I will head to the quilt store and see if I can find some fun fabric for a lap quilt for him.

Have a great week.

Connie204

Wrong Market???

I did the craft show this weekend. Sat. is poured, but Sunday it was nice. I didn't do well at all. We were in a small town and there were maybe 15 vendors. The ones that did well were the flea market people. The vendors (like myself) that made their own jewelry, etc. Didn't fare well. I was discouraged and thought if I heard one more person tell me "how cute and nice" my things were (without buying) I was going to cry. I really didn't feel I had overpriced anything. I am going to try one more on labor day. This show is strickly handcrafted items. They don't allow flea market items or stuff bought and you resell. So maybe that will be a better venue. I haven't given up, yet.

Always have time for a sale!

I've been getting ready for my first Craft show this coming weekend, but my in town shop (which started a fabric section 5 years ago had an anniversary sale. It's July so they were pushing some Xmas stuff. They had a demonstration for "Texture Magic" which you sew onto your fabric and then steam it. It crinkles up. I liked the little stockings that they had and thought they would make great gifts. They come in 3 sizes. The best part was that everything was 15% off. I couldn't resist. So I guess this means I have to start thinking about Xmas.

It's not as hot here, but still steamy. Our A/C gave out last Friday. I almost panicked. Luckily my DH has a cousin in the business and was fixed by Sat. afternoon. Phew! Connie204

My fall bag

Here is the bag that I made myself from the fabric that I got from my gift certificate. I really like the way it turned out. I've made myself some others, but this one I used a sturdier fusible batting and I like the stiffness better. I'm now working on more projects for the craft show. Hope everyone has a great day. Connie204

Grandparents for the third time.

It's been a while since I've had anything good to blog about. On Friday my stepson and his wife gave us a grandson. He is 7lbs.8ox and 19" long. Sweet little guy. He is the third. I was a little skeptical of this as my DH is called Andy, my stepson is Andrew or Drew to his friends and I am calling him, Little Andrew. We, of course, went up to the hospital (1 hr drive) and after he was born it seems like they now let everyone in. He was a couple of hours old and everyone was holding him (at least 10 people). I guess I'm getting old or am too old fashioned. The whole situation made me nervous.

I have decided to try my hand at a craft show. It is the end of the month in the town next to me. It will be outside and I am going to borrow a canopy. Everyone says that I should sell some of my stuff instead of always giving it away. I do have my handmade bookmarks, cosmetic cases, totes, diaper bags, crayon rollups for the kids and the walker totes. So wish me luck and hopefully some of it will sell. I did get a nice call and thank you note from my BFF MIL thanking me for the wonderful walker tote that I made for her. She just gushed. Which made me feel really good and I know it helps her.

I received a gift certificate from my BFF for my birthday. It was for the quilt shop I love. I was able to purchase some fabric for a new purse for myself. So between the laundry and a little house cleaning, I will make myself a new purse (to cheer me up) and I willl make somemore goodies for the craft show. Connie204

A Great Surprise from faraway

I haven't had anything good to blog about lately, until I received this package from Ann for winning her latest giveaway. I was so excited. Everything was wrapped so pretty and then what a surprise inside. A great magazine, a cup from Australia (so cool), notecards, a wonderful ornament that says "Quilt til you wilt" hand embrodiered, of course, a charm pack (which I will do something special with and a pattern for bags (my favorite thing). Chocolate, YUM

I then sat down and had a cup of tea and looked through the magazine. To my surprise there was a pretty victorian purse. I then thought about the purse I made back in 1995 for a cross stitch show. It's beaded and I made it out of velvet.

I'm sorry for the other two posts that I have no idea how they showed up. I didn't hit publish. I have been struggling with just trying to get these pictures on. Still not right but I'm tired of trying.

Thank you, Ann. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Connie204

Need help!

I am trying really hard to post some pics and it won't let me move them in the order I want. I'm sure there is a secret but I don't know it. Can anyone help please.

Thank you, Connie204

Walker Tote

My best friend's MIL fell last year and broke her hip. She had asked me if I could make her a tote for her walker. My friends husband said that she wouldn't like that. My friend sent me the quilted print fabric. Well, she just had her hipped replaced a few weeks ago, is in therapy and when she gets home will need a tote to get things around with her in the walker. She is 84 and has always been very active. I had found a pattern on-line and I think she will really like it. Its got pockets on both sides outside and of course the tote itself. I just love making these kind of projects. I have enough to make her another. this will be used.

Fabric Baby Book

I have decided that when making quilts (even baby ones) I need to give them to someone who appreciates what they have been given. Along with the baseball themed baby quilt and diaper bag (their theme was sports for the little boy to come) I included a baby fabric book that I found the panels at the quilt shop. Since our financial situtation is not the best. As everyone knows good fabric is not inexpensive. However, this little fabric panel for the book was only $7.00. The baby shower was yesterday and I was a bit hurt as the baby quilt was taken out of the package not opened and shoved back into the bag. Hopefully, sometime it will be used or appreciated.

Baby quilt done!

I finally finished the baby quilt to go with the diaper bag. It's a sort of a long story and has taught me not to try and skimp. I found out that I didn't have enough backing material for the quilt. Sooooo, I decided to add a border to the backing. I ended up not being as square to the quilt top and so I used the back fabric for the binding. It was a little short on one side and so I was able to catch the top edge by a little. I didn't want the edge to pop out so I added the red rick around the border and figured it would help strengthen it. It did turn out OK, I was worried it would look to girly, but my husband said it added to the quilt.

I can't believe I won Ann's contest. I have been under the weather alot lately and this just really made me feel good. This is such a wonderful group of people that I've gotten to know over the years and what a lift everyone gives me. Thank you. Connie204

Diaper Bag and Top Done!!!

Luckily the baby shower isn't til May 16. I still have to decide how to quilt the baby quilt. I'm not very good at free motion, but thought a very large stipple would work or just stitch in the ditch. I have the quilt sandwiched and ready to quilt. So I think I will do some free motion practicing, before I tackle it. Anyone have any suggestions for the quilting? Connie204

Dillema Solved With Help!

Thanks for all the great ideas. I was just about to get the Dinosaur fabric and say to heck with it, when my DH said he needed to go into the town that has one of my favorite quilt shops. It's a 1/2 hour drive. So he dropped me off there. They have a very large juvenile selection (besides everything else) and found this baseball fabric and the girls helped me figure out what I was going to do and what would make a cute baby boy quilt. I think it will be really cute and make a great baby quilt. We decided on an every other square 9 patch. I'm going to start the diaper bag first. It's a different pattern then what I usually make.

I'm excited about it and can't wait to get started, but first I have a little cleaning to do. I guess that means I'm starting to feel better.

Connie204

I have a baby quilt dillema and need some advice.

Crayon roll lups. I haven't figured out how to move the pictures to where I want them yet.

We just found out last week that we are going to be Grandparents again in July. A Boy! Our other two are girls. I want to make a baby quilt and diaper bag to match. I have been just informed that the shower is May 16. Here's my problem. They are going with a sports theme, baseball, basketball and football. I have been on-line for a couple of days trying to find some cute material and there is nothing that I think would be good for a baby quilt. I don't want a totddler quilt. I know that my stepson loves primary colors. I saw some adorable dinasour material, but have been told by his sister that they wouldn't like that. So I'm lost. So any ideas would certainly be helpful.

The doctor is still fooling around with my medications and I still don't feel wonderful, but not bad. Yesterday, I made a crayon roll lup for my BFF grandson. She has also asked me to make a tote for her mother-in-laws walker.

Here is the rag quilt that I made myself last month and a couple of crayon roll ups for Easter gifts.

Happy Easter everyone.

Thanks, Connie204

Happy it's almost spring

Hi everyone. I haven't been able to blog for a while as the computer has been really acting up and hopefully my DH finally has it back to normal. He has been struggling with it for awhile now and I haven't been able to get on it.

I still haven't had a chance to really understand all of this blogging and my mind has been on lots of other things. I made a rag quilt for myself as I had a bunch of flannel that I purchased a couple of years ago. I have to take it to the laundromat to wash and dry it. I will then post a picture after its been washed and dried. I have never had the nerve to do the first washing in my machine. I also made a crayon roll up for my 2 yr old granddaughter which did turn out really cute. However, that has been the extent of my sewing. The doctor has changed a couple of my medications and told me that I would feel like a truck ran over me and I really do feel that way. Hoping that in the next few weeks it will get better. Hard to sew or think straight when not feeling well and no computer. Still looking for a job, with no success. Have a great day and hopefully soon it will warm up.

It's been a while

Hi Everyone, It's been a while. I'm still trying to figure out this blogging. I haven't done much sewing lately, but have been able to make a few presents. My 14 yr old Granddaughter asked me to make her another tote for her birthday and I picked up my knitting needles (after quite a few years) and made her a fun scarf to match. My stepdaugher asked me to make my 2 year Granddaughter a baby doll blanket and pillow.

Hopefully, this works. Connie 204