Celebrate!

Blessings to you and yours!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas is coming!

At least that's the song that keeps playing in my head. It's the John Denver and the Muppets version from 1979 to be exact! Who doesn't love to hear Miss Piggy sing? We've been listening to the whole CD for the last week.

The little people are getting into the Christmas spirit despite the cold Little Mr. I'm 5 has and the nasty little stomach bug that took a hold on Little Miss Finally 4! We started the trees on Saturday. We put the little 3 foot trees in their rooms. They unloaded their ornament boxes and full of joy they decorated away! HobbyHubby and I did plenty of oohing and awing! So fun.

We put the Living Room tree up on Sunday. The little people were sooooooooooooo excited!! They did a fine job placing most of the unbreakables and I put all of the fragile ornaments on the top. HobbyHubby supervised and put the hooks on ornaments! It brings such joy to me to look at each ornament and remember where they all came from. We always had our own boxes at my parents' house which we then brought into our own homes.

I have my very first ornament from 1972. Isn't Humpty Dumpty so cute?

Okay... the picture is a tad blurry!My grandmother gave me many of her old ornaments.

Most are very brittle but I love them so much!

Here is her older brother Albert's horn from 1906.

(again, not the best photo)

Isn't that amazing?

I love having that 101 year-old ornament on my tree.

Check out the pink glass boot.

Another of her oldies!

Auntie B. quilted the tree skirt and gave it to me in 1993 as a bridal shower gift!

I have love on the tree and under it too!

On to some gifts...

Here are some happy little aprons I embellished for my best gal pal E.'s twins.

So fun! Remember Lucy Grey? Well, she was supposed to be for me, but someone I know really liked her after the felting. You know I had to embellish her with a bit of needle felting. I lined her and soon she'll be wrapped up. Any guesses as to the recipient?

This elf has just a few things more for the little people.

I must sew. Sew I must!

Happy Hobbies!

The stockings were hung...

by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there...

I think I made these stockings in 2003 with a bit of assistance from Auntie B. and they bring such joy and anticipation when we hang them each year. The little people have been loading them up and then pretending it's Christmas morning. It is quite a production!

The decorating is happening at a slow pace. Just a bit here and there this week and last.

HobbyHubby and I plan to get the small trees out for the little people and ready for decorating Saturday morning.

They love having the little trees in their own room.

I guess we'll put the big tree up this weekend too!

Happy Hobbies!

Swap update!

My giftie made it to Leanne in Australia!

Craftygirl

She opened it, so now I can share it with you.

It was a pleasure to make!

A fun little pattern using a charm pack!

Happy Hobbies!

The Presents Are Here!!

Very exciting for me!!

My swap package arrived yesterday!

It came from England!

I opened the package and found 4 happy looking presents!

Even one for Little Mr. I'm 5 and Little Miss Finally 4.

How kind.

The little people tried to talk me into opening them.

I must be honest I'm typically one to open gifts as they come in the door, but I'm trying to stick with Chookyblue on this and wait until Christmas morning!

I guess that will be a post for December 26th!

Happy Hobbies!

Christmas is coming...

but I didn't work on presents!

I was too busy working on stuff for me! SELFISH!

Sometimes a girl has to do what she has to do!

Finally caught up with Crazy Mom Quilts and her Quilt-A-long.

I'll be ready for week 4 instructions tomorrow!

Finished the first of my Maine Morning Mitts.

So much room for improvement!

My first attempt at any thing glove-like, OBVIOUSLY!

I started this project off on Friday night and worked up until the point where you begin the thumb gusset. Much to my own grief, I couldn't figure out what to do next or how to do it.

At some point during the umpteenth time of rereading the pattern I actually heard that cartoon sound in my empty head (YOU KNOW THE ONE...where the sound is hollow and brainless and the character's eyes just go in circles over and over again!).

Off to bed I went!

Saturday morning, I sat down, looked at the directions and the world was right again.

I COULD think. It was quite SIMPLE!

Gusset... schmusset! It is not a perfect mitt by any means, but I'm happy with my first fingerless mitt attempt!

Back to the needles for me!

Happy Hobbies!

Surprise to me!

Isn't it happy?

When I mentioned going back to work part time,

did I mention that Auntie B. works in the same department?

Well, SHE DOES, and SURPRISE!

As I stepped into my office last Monday afternoon this happiness was hanging!

Isn't it fun? I love the brights!

Aren't I spoiled?

It is another Buggy Barn pattern!

Happy Hobbies!

Christmas Swap!

Ho Ho Ho!!

Just a sneak peak!

My Secret Santa Gift is on its way!

Check out this swap here.

Happy Hobbies!

Bridal Shower Gifties

Auntie Z is hosting a bridal shower luncheon for her soon to be daughter-in-law tomorrow.

Oh what fun! I offered to make some jewelry for the giftie give-aways!

It's been ages since I was into my bead box and I decided to make some earrings.
I made three pairs of earrings but wasn't sure how to package them.

Here are the earrings...

I put the earrings on little cards I made from scrapbook paper. I sewed two pieces together and then sewed little envelopes with the coordinating paper. I added buttons and embroidery floss to make the closures.

Funny...Most often I can't just complete something without major plans or patterns. HobbyHubby even called to see if I was getting all worked up about the jewelry. (He knows me so well!) I tend to fret about jewelry construction; maybe obsess would more properly describe my state of mind. Not today!! I'm just as happy and fret free as can be! Maybe it had something to do with the turkey I ate yesterday! HA!

Happy Hobbies!

THANKGIVING, AMONG OTHER THINGS...

Cooking up...

I started cooking about 3:00 this afternoon with a triple batch of sweet potato casserole. You know... the casserole that starts with baked sweet potatoes, add eggs, milk, sugar and then top with and excessive amount of brown sugar and pecans...so that by the time you're done it is very dessert-like. I moved on to a triple batch of Giada DeLaurentiis's cornbread muffins...Oh so yummy... What could be better than jiffy mix combined with eggs, sour cream, buttermilk, corn & garlic? Finally, I made a triple batch of Pumpkin Whoopee Cookies....Triple batches you ask? Well, we're headed to a Thanksgiving feast at my grandfather's where there will be around 40 people...Let the games begin!

Giving thanks...

for HobbyHubby & the little people

my parents, especially my mom who's been sick for over 2 years

extended family

old friends

new friends

best friends

laughter

each day

Quilting-A-Long with Crazy Mom Quilts

As usual Crazy Mom Quilts inspires. I joined her quilt-a-long and this is my block for week one. I'm just a week behind and hope to get caught up over the weekend. I'm using a fat quarter set my mom got me for Christmas 2 years ago. I'm making 2 of each block and I plan to hang one quilt in my office at work and possibly gift the other one. We'll see...

Last night I also worked on my secret Santa swap offered by Chookyblue. Not much left to do before popping it into the mail....

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Hobbies!

Yarn Shopping!

HobbyHubby and the little people accompanied me to the yarn shop last Saturday!

Ooo la la!

As I knit more and read more about yarn and just visit the shop more....

I get to learn about all the different yarns.

If I haven't mentioned it before, I'll mention it now.

I think I'm turning into a yarn snob!

I love wool. I love yarn shop wool.

Much happier than craft store wool.

Happy for knitting, happy for felting, happy, happy wool!

Just this girl's opinion!

A view into the goody bag!

Yarn for Auntie Z's felted bag for Christmas.

3 Skeins of Cascade and 1 skein of variegated Noro.

We'll see if she gets the bag or just a box of yarn for Christmas!

(Time is moving fast this fall and projects are moving slow!)

4 skeins of really HAPPY Noro.

I'm planning happy hat, happy scarf,

&happy fingerless mitts

for Moi!

HobbyHubby picked out this for another hat!

More Noro! Loving it!

Happy Hobbies!

Another week...I haven't posted!

My friend Alison informed me last night that the Spicy Thai Chicken recipe was still up. Yikes.

I have been doing things... Seriously... I just haven't gotten them onto the blog.

Oh, and I have that new excuse, "I am a working mom now!"

Hee hee Hee!!!

Let me see. I've been faithfully working on Auntie B's Christmas gift.
Just the straps left to knit and then the felting fun begins!

Next, I've been helping Alison with her first ever quilt! Hurray Alison!

She chose a Buggy Barn pattern and it is looking great! See...

She was hiding. The snot!

Alison's been helping me with the creation of Christmas cards. Here is the work in progress.

I'll show you a finished one later... And you know the cards will have a fabric component!

I'm really digging the card making. I pretty much HATE having to come up with the ideas (that's Alison's new job! HA!), but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the actual card construction! I'm a pattern girl I guess!

I had to give Little Mr. I'm 5's teddy some TLC repair.

I added 3 more patches.

At the rate Teddy is disintegrating he's going to be completely patchwork by next year!

Teddy's little behind needed 2 patches.

Happy Hobbies!

Spicy Thai Chicken

per Crazy Mom Quilts's request...

This is a favorite among the grown-ups at our house! I'm such a Rachael Ray fan. You know, the Thirty Minute Meals gal? I love just about every thirty minute meal recipe I've tried even though it typically takes me 60 minutes the first time or two I make something.

Check out the recipe for Spicy Thai Chicken and enjoy!

Send me a link to your favorite recipes! We love anything with chicken or turkey.

Happy Hobbies!

Some things about the last week...

I didn't post!

I started a part-time job.

I didn't post!

I've eaten an extreme amount of chocolate... I wonder why?

I didn't post!

HobbyHubby and I had fun taking the little people trick-or-treating.

I didn't post!

I started Christmas shopping.

I didn't post!

I sewed for 6 hours.

I didn't post!

I knitted about 7 hours.

I didn't post!

I made spicy Thai chicken... YUM-O!

I didn't post!

I've read every single night.

I didn't post!

Happy Hobbies!

Happy Halloween!!

We had a great Saturday!!

We went to one of the pumpkin places in town and picked out our pumpkins!!

Then we let the little people draw the faces and we carved them just as drawn.

Didn't they turn out fun?

I did get some time to work on the cat quilt! A bit more finished... Then I realized that I need to get cracking on the gift for Chookyblue's swap. Have to get it mailed to....Oops! Can't tell... mailed by December 1!! I'll keep you posted!

Catch up with you in a few days....

Until then...

Happy Hobbies!!

Crazy Cats! Life Decisions!

I think I may finally have my quilt groove back!

I hope... These crazy cats are soooo cute!! Love em...

The pathetic-ness of this particular project is that I've had the fabric for over 2 years... Actually, it was a kit so even easier. More pathetic is that I started this happy cat quilt last January and haven't picker her up since.... Well, she's not actually together enough to be talking about her with such an attached fondness. More pathetic than above is the fact that I have two to make: One for me and one is a graduation gift for a great southern gal I know.... but the little darling graduated in 2005!!!

Oops... I think I might be talking myself right out of that groove... Nope... I'm determined not to!


Anywhoooo.... this is a kit from the Buggy Barn. Check out these CRAZY CATS. Too fun!

I'll keep you posted on what I can get done with these crazies this week!

On to the life decision....

I was recently offered an opportunity I just couldn't pass up. So I'm heading back into the world of work. It has been 4 years for me. Thankfully, it is only part-time! I don't think I could bear to leave the little people a minute over that! It will be an adjustment for all of us, but I know we will be successful! I think I'll possibly get more things accomplished in the hobbying department just because I'll be forced to use my free time more wisely.... I guess we'll see about that. The good news is that I'll get lots of breaks from work including the summer!!! So life won't change too much! The journey begins next week. Wish me luck!!

WHEN LIFE GETS IN THE WAY OF HOBBYING...

Sometimes I just can't get to my hobby space. Sometimes its errands, cleaning, meal preparation, or some other mom thing keeping me away.

Let me share what's keeping me away this fine afternoon....

Little Miss Finally 4 and Mr. I'm 5 had me playing with the Littlest Pet Shop animals...

Have you seen these little creatures? They are so much fun. Teeny tiny cutie things they are...

For example check out how cute this little Dragon fly is by clicking the link. http://www.hasbro.com/littlestpetshop/default.cfm?page=Products/Detail&product_id=19890

I'm hooked I tell you! Now I tried to pose these little guys today, but Little Miss Finally 4 said they didn't want their pictures taken today because they were too busy playing. These 2 photos were the best I could actually sneak. We have way too many of these little beings...

Let me see... we have monkeys, a sea horse, hamsters (one is actually fuzzy), a crab, turtles, birds, bunnies, a duck, a mouse, dogs, kitties, a play house, little take along cases....

What toys do you and your little people like to play with?

Happy Hobbies!

Maybe I'll get to sew tonight!

Check Out Crazy Mom Quilts!!

Okay all of you fun loving folks...

Those of you who leave me comments...(yeah so kind)

Those of you who lurk....(show yourselves)

We're going to have some fun with Crazy Mom Quilts. Click on the link or right here. Read her 200th post for her awesome talent and fun give aways. Then go to the comments section and leave her a comment on her fantastic work. Be sure to say in your comment that you were referred by HobbyMommy so I get a chance at that fabulous quilt... or get your gal pals to comment so you can be referred and get a chance for the quilt! Either way we all want a chance to win that cute purse. Get your name in there!!!

Okay! Have some fun!!! mmmm... I'm going to have to get a give-away going on here! Definitely need to do some de-lurking! HA HA!!!

Happy Hobbies!

FINALLY!

Every have a project that just went on forever?

Or, maybe it just seemed that way because the fabric has been staring at you for months and months...

Or, you made so many pillowcases for relatives last year...

Or, HobbyHubby asked where the pillowcases for the HobbyHouse were...

At this point...IT DOES NOT MATTER! The seasonal/holiday/fun pillowcases are finished.... Hurray. I can move on to some other sewing with no more pillowcase guilt!!!!

Check it out!

BirthdaysPatrioticHalloweenChristmasHalloweenWho doesn't love Betty Boop just for fun?

Rudolph

FallHappy Halloween Auntie B.

Happy Hobbies!

Quilt Tour, Part 7

I'll admit I haven't been so crafty this past week which means more touring back at home....

This is a fun chicken kit I purchased in IL in 2001 when Auntie B. came to visit.

I think I completed it in 2003 before Little Miss Finally 4 was born.

The chickens live in kitchen.

I think I completed this Scrap sampler in 2004.

It currently lives in the living room.

Hopefully I'll have a more productive run soon and have something new to share!

Until then...

Happy Hobbies!