Birthday Party, WIPs and More!

Whew! Time sure does fly doesn't it?? I can't believe that it has been almost 2 weeks since Little Man's big day and I am just now catching a few minutes to sit down and write about his birthday!

Well--it was a great day and fun was had by all! It really was a fun little party--it got started right on time and ran over a bit with everyone visiting. We ended up having 13 people, so it was a nice turn out, and the deli tray that we were afraid we were going to be snacking on for days after got munched right up! It was your basic deli tray--3 kinds of cheese--cheddar, pepper jack and swiss--and 3 meats--turkey, ham and roast beef. There was olives and we added a veggie dip and I picked up 2 dozen rolls--12 plain and 12 sesame so people could make sandwiches. The cupcakes were ADORABLE--here see for yourself!

Aren't they cute??? I was super pleased with those little guys from Tami's Sugar Art. Quite tasty too! Just rolled fondant and the extra long legs were prefect to keep them standing upright in the frosting. And here is Little Man enjoying one of his cupcakes! He even got frosting on his nose!

Frosting makes wonderful finger paint too!

I have been busy with some new projects and I just need to get pictures taken so I can get them up on Etsy--using the cell is NOT the best for selling, and with Little Man wanting to walk everywhere and help, kinda need Papa to help with pictures! So hopefully, this weekend, that can get done in between all the other things that need to get done in the next 48 hours! Did I say that coffee was my best friend right now? Little Man has also decided that 3 am is a WONDERFUL time to wake up, no matter the time we went to sleep the night before! Amazingly though, I feel that I have gotten quite a bit done and accomplished actually the past 2 weeks, and I have more things up my sleeves for Summer!

Here is one item I am working on-- more cutter quilt goodies--but with out a doubt, I am really hooked on cutter quilt items! I really like how different every piece is and each is an individual.

Stay tuned to see what these little guys turn into! I am also working on coiled coasters--and I can see lots of different applications for these guys! Coasters, small candle mats, like for a votive cup, perhaps to set a frame on, a plant... the possibilities are endless!

One bit of VERY exciting news is that I was accepted into the Old Farmhouse Gathering team on Etsy this week and I am just over the MOON with excitement! Very big thing for me to be accepted--it is a juried team so I had to be accepted in on the merit of my work and I am just so proud that I am now a part of OFG! Be sure to check them out on Etsy--just put OFG into the search and revel in all the beautiful items from the talented artists that are in this group! Sooo thrilled! **happy dance**! Stay tuned as well, because in mid May they are hosting a Summer Celebration and that will be something to see!

**HOT OFF THE PRESSES**

Yippee! I just got word that I won one of the 2 bunnies offered by Barb at Barb's Heartstrokes Blog that she offered in a quick little giveaway-- I think they are darling, and I know they are going to have fun with all the bunnies I have here! Looks like this is going to be an exciting weekend after all!

Well I should wrap it up for now-- I wish everyone a very happy weekend, take care, be safe and as always--happy crafting!!

Karen :o)

Saturday's WIPS

Happy Weekend Dear Friends!

I have been sewing up a storm this week and it has continued into today --I have been busy making bears from a pattern by Maureen at Sweet Meadows Farm--totally ADDICTED, I must say! I love, love, LOVE this pattern! So great for using up scraps, and I can see more patterns by SMF being added to my 'Must Make' list! I have 2 that I can show you now--

The first one is a flat headed teddy--just look at that sweet face! with a rather heavily tea and coffee stained fabric body--the fabric started out in a light teal-ish blue and I am really pleased with the level of distress. She is finished off with 3 rusty bells tied on with crochet thread and a rather ratty tea stained cheescloth bow.

The next one is a round headed bear, which hubby says would make a great Daddy bear and this one is dressed in a lighted stained, yellow and peach body--stained with a blend of tea and vanilla with a light bow. She doesn't have buttons or bells yet--trying to decide exactly how I want to finish this bear.  I also stained and grubbied up both heads before attaching them to the bodies and rubbed cinnamon into both so they smell oh so YUMMY! I am going to be listing these darling bears in my Etsy store here shortly--with better pictures! These here were taken with my cell phone next to my back door!

Also being worked on are some new tucks that I am going to be partnering with the sewn baskets that I shared in my last post. I think they are going to be wonderful for spring, Mother's Day and into Summer! They are still in the playing, sewing, thinking stage, but I will be taking pictures along the way so you can see them!

This is a pretty big weekend around these parts for the Little Man, as we are getting ready to have his first birthday party tomorrow! Can hardly wait! Grandpa and Omi, Mommy and Papa, Big Sis and Big Brother and some of our friends are going to be here to celebrate! We are doing a farm theme and rather than doing a cake, we decided to do cupcakes instead! We are getting the frosting airbrushed green with green sprinkles and I purchased the most DARLING fondant farm animals from Sugar Art by Tami on Etsy. Here is a similar set to what we purchased --they are absolutely adorable and I highly recommend her work--and they came beautifully packaged and she put longer legs on the animals so they will stand up in the frosting! I will be sure to take plenty of pictures to share in a future blog post!

Well--I should wrap it up for now! I can hear my machine calling me and I need to get my goodies finished up for tonight's listing on Olde Primitive Peddler! Have a wonderful Saturday and weekend friends! And as always--

Be safe and happy crafting!
Karen

PS Alas, my sewing machine went kaput on me today--I was happily sewing along and it started to make some grinding noises and I stopped what I was doing and ran it down to the quilt store where I get it serviced and it will be going in for a spa treatment and I won't have it for 2 weeks! I did switch over to my back up machine and that was like using a new machine since I haven't used it for a while! The upshot is though, that I won't get my items done for Spooks and Saints on Olde Primitive Peddler! Darn it all! So they will have to wait till the next listing, which will be May 15th--just wanted to let you know!!

Crack that WIP and new listings

Good morning dear readers!

WHERE did March go?  It felt like such a long month while it was here, but now, wow! here we are in April already, and Easter is just around the corner! My sewing had to go on the back burner for quite a while in February and March due to having a nice visit from a high school friend and his lady and little girl and to Little Man cutting 4 (count em 4) teeth! Poor Bean! But, they are just about through now, all pearly white--he has also turned 1 and I am spending a lot of time chasing the little bean down and that has seriously cut into my crafting time.

In March, I participated in an Easter swap and I really wanted to make my swap partner's Easter basket. I remembered way back, many, many moons ago, making sewn baskets--fabric wrapped cording that was stitched together with the fabric--and while I was looking for instructions for  making those baskets (which I did eventually find) I stumbled across videos on YouTube for making the baskets sewn on the machine. I had seen them a year or so back, but I was rather worried about sewing them on the machine--fast moving needle, fingers... could be interesting! LOL Well, I decided to take the plunge after watching these videos. So I got some cotton clothesline, tore some strips of quilting cotton and went to town! And BOY did I go to town! I made several baskets and I am hooked!!! Here are pictures of some of the baskets I made--

The picture just above is the base of one basket being sewn together on my machine--that particular basket was claimed by my dear hubby to hold all of his work stuff--pens, work badge, phone and headset, keys--you get the picture--but at least all his stuff is together in one place! The middle basket is the one I sent to my swap partner, and the one on top I am debating if I am going to sell it or keep it for myself!! They are VERY addicting and I can see many more being made as time goes by! I am seriously thinking about making them to go with the various tucks I am planning. I think that would be a great go together--2-3 tucks, a matching/coordinating basket and filler--any thoughts on that, dear readers? Great for gifts!

I have some new items up on OPP ( Olde Primitive Peddler) --The first grouping is on the main site, and consists of 2 dolls and one of my baskets--

The basket is a rather good sized basket--10 inches long, 8 inches across and 3 inches deep. The doll in the middle is Greta Jean--I just LOVE her! I am sooo pleased with how she came out--she is the first doll I made with the new type of stuffing I found and I am really pleased with how it worked and with how she looks! Her hair is scarlet dyed raw wool that I tied in place-- I was so pleased with how Emma's hair came out, I really wanted to try it with Greta! Her features are painted and well sanded and she was tea-stained and baked dry-Prince's coloring was a pleasant surprise--I love how he looks, and I am going to have to write down what I did with him for future projects so I don't forget! Last but not least is Mary-Anne. I really like this pattern, and I really like how this particular doll comes out. I typically make her with floss hair, all wild and crazy, but this time, I decided to make her with red alpaca hair. Raw Alpaca is totally different then the way that wool feels--silky soft, smooth and just different. You will have to feel it to see!  All three of these can be found here.

I also have Sadie, my Scare-die cat, that I think is absolutely adorable-- Isn't she CUTE??? I think she would be absolutely darling for Halloween and  I also have a Fall candle mat as well. These two items can be found here.

I am also working on more cutter quilt items and bunnies and bears that have cotton bodies and plush faces and I am thinking they are going to be absolutely adorable and I can hardly wait to share them with you! I am also working on Americana and other goodies for summer and into fall--can you believe it is already time to start thinking about fall?? At least for me!

Well, I am glad to be back in Blog-land and being able to visit with all of you! I wish each and everyone of you a wonderful Wednesday and until next time--

Take care and happy crafting!

Karen