Creating today ...

Today will be a PJ day for me! I have already decided, isn't that great as it's just 9am?

This is where I am creating from:

I think I talked about this book last year? I bought it for myself as soon as it came out. I am a huge fan of Betz White and love her green ideas with crafting/sewing with felted wool. So I am going to make a project in this book. I have a stash of felted wool sweaters, blankets. and other scraps. I'll show my finished project :)

How many more hours til nap time?

After Christmas Sales anyone?

Well, we are still fighting colds/ear infection/sinus infection around here but I did go out yesterday afternoon for a little post-Christmas sales shopping. Where'd I go?

JOANN's :) haha! That's the only place I felt like digging around in.

I was so suprised, there was hardly anything left!! The sales girls told me that they've had things on clearance already for so long that they were pretty much cleaned out by the 24th. That's OK. I did grab a few things on sale.

And fabric!!! Wanna see what I got?

These are from a newer line they are carrying called Heidi Kline. I like the fun/funky colors and designs. So I want to play - i have a pattern idea too!

Anyone hit those great after-Christmas sales at other craft stores? Any good finds? Share!!!

Merry Christmas everyone

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Enjoy the time with your friends, family and loved ones.

See you next week sometime :)

My little helper!

As a stay at home mom, I am finding I have to either wait until nap time to create or ... just try to do a few things here and there while my toddler is 'helping' me. I decided to do a little of both, somedays it is more challenging than others :)

We live in a ranch, so I can close all the doors and Gabrielle will play right in the hallway or the spare room where we have this fun toy:

Remember my contest a while ago on the vintage Strawberry Shortcake house and dolls/pets? well this is alot of fun for her little hands. Many days, we will play in there for a good hour - giving the dollies baths, letting them sit on the potty, doing night-night, etc.

The other day, I was in my sewing room which is gated. And this way, I can hear what she is doing and she is only a few steps (over the gate) away. Well I kept hearing alot of giggling and 'talking' to Daise (Daisey, the cat who was laying on the bed, watching everything). Suddenly, I saw this sight:She loaded up her little dolly stroller with lots of furniture and dolls from the house and pushed the stroller down the hall. Hmmm, OK. A few seconds later, she came back and I look up to see her coming straight to the gate where she threw about everything in that stroller over the gate into my sewing room.

This game continued for quite a while, until I'd say most of what was in the house was now on the floor in my sewing room.

In the meantime... I ironed 4 big pieces of tea stained muslin, traced 6 dolls, and organized my worktable and desk.

I'd call that progress!!!! :)

Snowman Soup - crafting for fun

I know it's just a few days before Christmas - you may be completely done with shopping, gift giving, etc. or maybe you are looking for a last minute idea. I made these up for the moms in my Mom's Club for our holiday party last week. Snowman Soup - it's a great idea that is quick and easy to make up that is just a little extra something for teachers, friends, etc.

I put them all in a basket with a little sign - as moms, we are so busy with doing everything ALL the time, but even more so this time of year. so I asked them to take one and find 5 minutes to sit and relax in front of the Christmas tree and drink their snowman soup.

Snowman soup is something that's been around for a while and there are many poems available on the internet (just google snowman soup poem and you will find lots!). I used graphics by Cheryl of Raggedy Scrappin. Just because I like hers the best! And you use a packet of hot cocoa, a candy cane and a pack of marshmellows. So easy and fun!

Crafting a bit for fun

We are going to the Mom's Club holiday party this afternoon, I can't wait! We meet up in a church and it's all kinds of mahem with kids running around and mom's chatting, lots of food, holiday music, games, and crafts. Sounds crazy doesn't it? It kind of is, but in a real nice and comforting sort of way for me. It's a total different pace from our normal routine of just the 2 of us at home too.

So I did a little crafting for fun for the mom's - I will show pic's later!

While I am in charge of crafts for the kids, I am also kind of a cheater! I haven't made a kid's craft since I was about 12 (for myself!). One day I thought I'd start researching kid's crafts to come up with some fabulous ideas. HA! Two hours later, I was lost on clicking, clicking and clicking away - everything looked fun and easy but I forgot where I started.

So I ordered kits from Oriental Trading; the kids seem to like them (all those little shapes are pre-cut! nice!) and moms can take them home if we run out of time.

Seems funny but I have to admit it. Oh well! I did bake chocolate chip cookies. June Cleaver, I am not that is for sure :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Isn't that a beautiful and peaceful picture of snow? Looks alot like Christmas!! That was taken at my parent's house before we left to come home last Friday. That little blue house is the kids' playhouse :) FUN! My dad built it!!

I thought i'd share some of my Christmas decorating pictures. I won this beautiful penny rug at convention last year; it was handmade by Nancy. If I can find her business card, I'll post the website. The snowman make-do is by my friend Kim Lance of Primitives by Kim - we sell our wares in a local shop and see each other at shows sometimes. She's soooo talented!

This is my little Annie tree; lots of Annie's on there from great talented friends! All of them are handmade!

This is a terrible picture - I think it's the red walls in the dining room; this is my handmade only prim tree. I always buy a few new ornies each year to add to it. I think it's full :)


I bought this from Maureen of Sweet Meadows Farm at the Knoebles craft show a couple years ago. I love him! he's on top of the piano so little hands don't get him.

Another one of my favorites - little Lily from Nicole of Raggedy Old Annies. I have the pattern but I wanted one from her (it's my 2nd doll from Nicole actually!).

PEEK a boo! Goofy little girl is trying to get me to take her pic :) I couldn't resist.

2 of my favorites from my good friend Robin of Button Eyed Annie. We did a swap and I just love these 2 pieces.

I hope you liked them!!!

Happy birthday to ....

My stepmom Carol, today is her birthday! This picture was taken when we went to visit last week. She will probably not like the picture that much or that I put it on my blog but I think it's such a cute and fun picture!! AND the reason I wanted to share this with you is to talk about creativity and inspiration.

I've been thinking on this topic alot lately. If you are a crafter who creates for a hobby or to sell, you've probably experienced the 'dry spell' at some point right? I know I have!! Lately, more than ever with having to chase around a toddler all day. (who me??????)

I have come to know that for my own 'dry spell' time, it always passes and inspiration will strike again. It's the waiting it out time that makes me crazy! :)

So what to do when you are stuck waiting it out or trying to strike the creative embers again? When we go visit my parents, my stepmom and I will always end up in her craft/sewing room (and ditto when they come see us!). Sometimes with a project in mind to work on together, sometimes just to look at books, think of ideas, play with fabric or show each other some neat things we have picked up or found along the way.

I love when we put our heads together, I always come home with lots of new ideas and projects I want to tackle (you should see the pile of things here!). It gives me a little 'break' from staring at the 4 walls of my sewing room. And when I am stuck, that can be such a relief to get away for a few days and look at new things. That always seems to help me!

I also really love that we share our creativity. It helps to have someone else to share ideas with and someone who thinks differently than I do. We have been having so much fun lately with crafting that we decided to do a craft show together next year, the Letchworth State Park show in NY (it's only a few minutes from their house). I am really excited about that!

I'm going to keep blogging on the topic of inspiration/creativity. I hope to get some of your thoughts on it too!

In the meantime, it's time to 'rest' a bit :)

Great article on copyright

Usually I find that copyright is such a touchy subject among the crafting world; I have a hard time understanding certain aspects of it myself.

I subscribe to this great newsletter by James Dillehay, Craft Marketer. This issue had an excellent topic, 12 Copyright Myths as well as basics on copyright. Here is a link to the article:
http://www.craftmarketer.com/Copyright-Myths.pdf

I would highly recommend subscribing to the newsletter; I've learned quite a bit over the last year from tips to selling at craft shows, online, pricing crafts and even just some basic but very helpful business tips. If you are a crafter who is considering turning your hobby into a business, this is a 'must' on your reading list!

Our first snow!

We had our first snow storm this weekend and it was so beautiful. Don't you think it just 'sets the mood' for Christmas? That picture above was the view from our driveway as the morning sun was coming up.

This is the view from our deck:

I love how quiet and calm the morning was; just so tranquil. And I got in the mood for wrapping presents, finishing decorating and just signing Christmas songs!!!

Of course I had to take my little one outside to play in it; this was the afternoon it started, out on our deck. All she did was sit down right in the snow. Haha!

I hope you all are enjoying your tranquility and peacefulness. Take a moment to breathe it all in!!! In the midst of holiday 'stuff' we can easily forget to relax and enjoy.