Monday, November 29, 2010

Lots of Pretty Things

November 29, 2010

Lots of Pretty Things

(Pretty Things Part 1)

Today I received a postcard from Sweden.
This is the first anything I've received in the mail from anywhere outside the USA.
It was very exciting and day brightening!



The post card came from my dear friend Julie.
Julie writes a great and interesting blog about her life in London and Sweden at myblogswedishouse.blogspot.com/
She has exceptionally great taste.




There is a good resemblance between my favorite post card and my favorite book about London.
This is a perfect book by M. Sasek.
Mr. Sasek is awesome and wrote several wonderful picture books.
(Pretty Things Part 2)
I made my first apron.
I'm very happy with how it turned out and it was silly simple.


Meet Elsie and Hank.
(I love the sun shining through Elsie's ears!)






More sunshine ears.





Elsie's bottom.



Hank's bottom.



Hank needed back surgery because I under stuffed him.
Everything went well and he is healing faster than we estimated.

(Pretty Things Part 3)
I've had important gift ideas floating around in my head for weeks and magically the ideas came together on my trip to the thrift store last week.


A tea set being assembled.
Maybe sew some napkins and a lawn cloth?



Tea sets need a small bowl for small fruit.


Out of the shelves of canisters and cookie tins this blind mouse tin popped out on top of the piles.
I have a friend who will be delighted with my 50 cent find!




It looked uncommon and beat up enough for me to pick up.



Awesome.

Better yet this vintage robe pattern was front and foremost in rows and rows of shelved patterns.
(A girl I love mentioned something about a robe for X-mas).



I'm feeling very happy and relaxed for the holiday season.
Most of my gift sewing is finished and the bought items have been purchased locally.
It's going to be a festive, loving season!

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Eleven Inches Of Snow

Sunday November 28, 2010

Eleven Inches Of Snow.

It is so pretty and quite outside tonight.
It has been snowing since 11:00 am.
Utah is a cold desert climate and my city sits 4,500 above sea level.
All this means that Utah's snow is light and dry and powdery.
It's lovely to play in.

Here are a few night shots taken between 8 and 11pm.




















I love a good snow storm!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thanks

November 25, 2010

Thanks

My heart is full of gratitude.
I feel thankful everyday.











Happy Thanksgiving!


Friday, November 19, 2010

Meet Naomi

November 19, 2010



Meet Naomi



This is the lovely Naomi.
The family loves her especially Abby.
It will be nice to have her around for awhile.












We are nestling for the weekend.
It is going to be a cold and snowy weekend.
I hope everyone is snug and warm this weekend.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Thrifting Luck

November 18, 2010

Thrifting Luck

I popped into my local thrift store today and came out with a bag full of goodies and my wallet nine dollars lighter.
I think I did OK.








(I bought the limes at the grocery store just to clear up any confusion.)







Have you had luck thrifting lately?
Send me your link in the comments, I would like to see what goodies you are finding.

Monday, November 15, 2010

I'm In Love With A Stuffed Rabbit

November 15, 2010

I'm In Love With A Stuffed Rabbit

Meet Abby.
I made this softie for my niece but I don't think Freya and I will be able to part with her.
Abby is 100% hand sewn and took seven hours to complete.
I'll get faster. The first of every new project takes more time.
She was very fun to make and came together fairly easy.







As with every new project I love, I want to make a dozen of them.
The pattern is in Kata Golda's Hand-Stitched Felt.
There are adaptations to make a bear or a mouse softie too.
(The finger puppets and puppet bed can also be found in Hand-Stitched Felt.)


I would like to share a few things I am grateful for lately.
The amazing friendship I have with my Grandma Billie.
Live Music
People with good manners
Instant movies on Netflix
Ricky Gervais
Cheers to a new week!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Finger Puppets And Art Class

November 12, 2010

Finger Puppets And Art Class

I finished some gifts for a couple girls named Tessa and Laney.



I embroidered their names right on the wool so there will be no confusion as to whom it belongs. I'm thinking of putting my name on everything I own.














I really, really liked making these puppets and their bed roll.
It's all hand work so it's a nice take along or watch a movie project.
I found the idea and pattern in Kata Golda's book Hand-Stitched Felt.
While working on these puppets I watched the following movies:
Bridget Jones' Diary (with Grandma Billie).
Zach Galafianakis Live at the Purple Onion
Never Been Kissed
Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) (Sexy R.D Jr. , Blah movie).
Extras
Devils Backbone
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
and others.

Tonight Freya taught her first art class.
Yesterday we had to sign up.
Sign up requires your actual birth date, your name printed and your signature.
Freya was very prepared to teach our first lesson.
On a paper plate she had written our names and drawn a picture of us.
The class assignment was to draw a picture of our self on the plate.
Here is today class assignment.
I know many of you can't share your Christmas projects but I would like to hear how they are coming along and if you're on task. Leave a link in my comments if you blog about it so I can check it out!

Best wishes of the season!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Grandma Billie Day Plus Randomness

November 10, 2010

Grandma Billie Day Plus Randomness

Early yesterday morning Chris and I went to Freya's school to see her and her classmates receive an award for their art work.
It was early and fun.



Since the day was young I decided to take a movie and some hand sewing to Grandma Billies. (Grandma Billie taught me everything I know about sewing).
With 20 minutes of Bridget Jones's Diary left she decided we needed to go Christmas shopping for her great-grand children (She has eleven).
It was fun Christmas shopping with her.
Afterward Chris met us from work at Chilis and grandma treated us to lunch.
Grandma and I love Chilis chips and salsa.
It is sooo salty!



My grandma would not want me sharing this photo of her with her eyes have shut.



Later in the evening Freya and I worked on a family school project.
Chris and Oliver provided their input.
Freya and I had an awesome time fluffing up the turkey.



It's great eh?

Tonight I worked on a baby gift.
I have been forever saving this fabric for just the right project.
It is fun to finally work with it.
( It get tired of using fun, awesome, lovely, great as adjectives. But, 'It is terrific to finally work with this fabric' or 'It's fantastic and sublime to finally work with this fabric' sounds so over the top).





I like this fabric.