Once Upon A Time....

...there was a little sheep.

Her name, oddly enough, is

Sheep.

Sheep is very much loved by her owner, Sarah.

But Sarah also lives with some very curious doggy pals.

This inquisitive pair could resist Sheep no longer.

This is the result:

Poor Sheep!

But she was brave and Sarah's mom took Sheep

to Dr. Jenny for a quick (and painless) hospital stay.

A stitch in the ear

(and a stitch in the rear)

and Sheep was on her way home.

You did great, Sheep!

Be safe!



All Ready for Winter

I received a request for  some winter wear

for the dollies of two special girls. 

Here, Ruby Kate is modelling a white fleece coat

with a pretty light blue set of hat, mittens, and scarf.

Here, Marisol is modelling a red fleece coat

accented by hat, mitten, and scarf set in cozy black fleece.

(Her coat hem is actually straight....

blame the photographer...oh wait, that's me!)

 

So I Went to the Craft Fair

And I was so nervous...

but...

it turned out pretty well!

Thank you to all who stopped by my little table,

who bought a few a little goodies,

or just shared a nice comment!

I sold quite a few little dolly outfits.

I hope there are some happy dolls looking fashionable out there

or some doll owners who will be excited by some treasures on Christmas morning.

Thanks again, everyone!

I better get to work as I have some more little treasures to create!



They Think I'm Hot!!!!!

Our copper cookie cutters were just

 included in an Etsy Treasury.

We are considered "hot!"

My first time ever!!!

Well, not me...our 'smooch' copper cookie cutter.....

Thanks, DirtKicker for including us in the

Some Like It Hot treasury!

It Actually Happened

I finally won something!!

I never thought this day would come!

No, not the lottery...

not a new car...

Think a bit smaller.

But in our house, the excitement level is just as big...

Here it is:

It's a pattern to make adorable trench coats for Rachel's treasured American Girls!

I received an e-mail from the delightful Cinnamon at

Liberty Jane Clothing

http://www.libertyjanepatterns.com/

letting me know I had been selected to choose any pattern I liked.

She has some really cute patterns and finished clothing and accessories for the beloved American Girls.

Add another website full of goodies to my ever-growing wishlist.

Thanks, Cinnamon!

Another (Unsurprising) Adventure in Bad Luck

If you know me, you know

I travel with a big ol' black cloud.

It's like a reliable "friend"...

it's always there...

you never have to wonder...

it's just off to the side...

waiting to squash any chance at joy.

So when I did not receive tickets to my beloved

Regis and Kelly

I really was not surprised.

I mean, really, I know the deal about my life...

I don't always like it

but I've learned to roll with the punches.

But what actually does bother me

is the number of people out there

who are willing to financially profit

from their luck at receiving tickets.

Isn't the purpose of life about

sharing and helping others to be happy?

Believe me, I could use a few extra bucks.

Who couldn't?

But to use my dear Regis in such an ugly way?

Shame , shame, shame!!!

Karma's a b*%$#!!

Yeah for Summer

Oh, how I love the summer

on our fair island!

At Last!!!

At last....

I've come up a with a chocolate chip cookie

that will last forever!

Well, sort of....

It looks good...

It's super soft....

You just can't eat it...

But you can snuggle it!

He's a cute little pillow!

Love him!!

Well, hello there!

We have a new addition to our household.

I'm not sure how I feel about him.

He's a bit odd....

so you'd think I'd be attached to him instantly, 

wouldn't you?

His name is Marv.

Doesn't that name fit him well?

A New Home

I was given the opportunity to make a dolly

that would travel to her new home in Ontario.

I am really thankful for this chance

to show my little ballet girls...

I used a bitofwhimsy pattern.

I hope her new family thinks

she is as sweet as I do.

Thanks to K.C. and Mrs. H.

Something for the Grown-Ups

Have I mentioned my obsession with felt?

It's quite something.

Much of my day is spent trying to figure out

how to use my felt stash to create a little something.

These are the lastest little somethings.

Brooches.

But I bet I could turn them in other goodies.

Stay tuned.

A Reason to Create

Did you ever meet someone and

even though you haven't known them a long time or

you don't really even see them very often,

you still think they are just so nice?

I have had the chance to meet a few people like that over the past while.

Just really meet in passing.

Sometimes have a pleasant chat.

But they just have such a kind disposition that

you are glad they crossed your path.

I met a dear family this year.

They have two dear little girls.

And a new little baby boy has joined them.

And because everyone needs a welcome to the world gift,

this is for him:

This is made from the Lenny the Guinea Pig

 pattern from bitofwhimsy.

There Is A Thief Among Us!!!

If you made a mistake would you own up to it?

Trust me, I spend a significant portion of my time apologizing for the many goofs I create.

Everyone makes a mistake at least once in a while.

Yes, even you.
Especially me!

It is an inherit part of being human.

I get that.

However, if you do something wrong and then pretend it never happened, that makes you less than human.

Part of helping our children to be good, trustworthy, responsible, and respectable people is to teach them -- not only by what you say but also by what you do (or don't do).

Someone at our wonderful dance class "took" R's favorite pink fleece jacket

(see the previous entry for photos of said jacket).

If it had been accidental, all would be forgiven.

But this item was not taken in place of another.

There was no forgotten coat left behind in her jacket's place.

And if you "take" a child's coat, would it not occur to you that a child would then have no coat to wear home?!

Would it also not occur to you that the name inside the jacket was not your child's name?

And a week+ later, no sight of the beloved jacket.

If your child came home with someone else's anything, would you let her keep it?

If you made a mistake, would you try to make it right?

Do You Love Your Home?

I do.

I hear so many people talking about how they want to get away...

to see what else is out there...

that it must be better elsewhere.

Really?

When all this is just outside our doors.....

My Latest Etsy Additon

I am so glad I have a daughter.

Not just because I love her

(because I really do!).

But also because it is a good "cover" for my need to create little girly things.

Isn't it cute?

What little girl doesn't need a little purse?

Yes, I know she is way too old for this kind of thing

but at least I can say

"Oh, that's not mine."

Happy Birthday, Grampy!

We are so blessed here to have such a great grampy!

Just like our super nanny, Grampy makes us feel so happy.

 Even on the days when I'm sure he wants a few moments to himself, he always finds the time to include us....and for that we are so grateful.

Every year it's a challenge to figure out what Grampy might enjoy for his special day.

But really, how many tools, ties, etc. can one fella use?

So, from this year forward Grampy will have a sugar fix on his birthday.

Happy birthday, Grampy!

Dreams Can Come True

It's here!!!!

It's really here!!!

I dreamed!

I hoped!

And now, IT'S MINE!!!!!

No, I didn't win the lottery.  That is next on my list of accomplishments!

What??  Stop laughing .....  it could happen!

I have been searching for a copy of this book for a year.  It was published in 1982 and snagging a copy has been a challenge. There are a few on eBay but the asking price has been well out of my reach (over $30 in most instances).

And then there was Bev from Australia.

She had this wonderful, beautiful, almost new copy that she was selling on OZtion (it's like eBay but just in Australia as far as I can tell).

And how much, you ask.

$10 !!!!!

And those are Australian dollars -- even better as the Canadian dollar is worth a bit more.

It took two weeks to arrive and I swear I have been carrying it around like a kid who got the dolly she wanted for Christmas!!!

So far we have created these little goodies:

We put a brooch pin on the back of the bunny but I see all kinds of other options, too....

backpacks

keychains

magnets...

Oh, are you as excited as I am?

You can stop laughing at me now.

Welcome-to-the-World Gifts for Rebecca

My dear friend Julianne had a precious baby girl on January 29. 

She is a beautiful little miracle named Rebecca.

Baby gifts are always fun to buy but I made that handmade pledge to myself and have done pretty well so far sticking to it.

Also, Rebecca is baby no. 4 for this special family.  Really, what hasn't Julianne seen already?!

This is what Rachel and I thought might work.

It's a felt name banner that I suppose could hang on a door or on the wall in her room.

A little lamb made of terry cloth with no little parts.

Her face is hand-embroidered so no buttons or bits to worry about.

The pattern is from Bit of Whimsy.

Welcome to the world, Rebecca!

We love you already!

Recycling for Fashion

Do you ever regret teaching your kids something?

Once you tell them something, you can't "un-tell" it.

That's the lesson for today, Family

(and other readers -- are there really any readers out there in cyberland?).

My "pretty hoarding"  (see February 11  entry) and the lesson of the importance of recycling have come to haunt me.

Well, not haunt.  More like a project that didn't sound fun to me but was super-important to the princess-of-the-house (no, not Art, ha ha).

I couldn't part with the princess' tights from kindergarten and she felt great need to re-purpose them, so....

Can you guess what they became?

Isn't it obvious?

Kindergarten tights became preteen, fashion-savvy

ARM WARMERS!!!

version 1

version 2

Ta - da!

So much wishing, so little action

When you have plans of accomplishing so many things do you sometimes just end up accomplishing nothing?

This is that day for me.

I have an actual list of things I want to do.

Yet.....nothing!

Perhaps if I look at something I already did that was fun....

A little tooth fairy pillow for a dear little girl.

Oh, well.

Maybe tomorrow will be a better day!

I Am So Lucky

I have the greatest auntie ever.

My wonderful Aunt Phyllie.

Otherwise known as Nanny at our house.

She doesn't have to be so good to us but she is and we are so very thankful.

She has lots going on with all her kiddies and their kiddies, too.

But she and my equally super Uncle 'Den (known at our house as Grampy) have included us.

And that feels so good.

Nanny's birthday was a short while ago but her present only was received today (I know, I know -- but I swear I didn't forget).

I always want to do something special for her  --  but I made that handmade pledge to myself, so what to do?

Finally decided on these little goodies.

Got this idea from Made With Love and Glue.

We love you, Nanny!

Is It Recycling or Is It Hoarding?

Another of my latest obsessions is Hoarders on A&E.

I would watch it all day, every day.

I don't know if it's because I am interested to know why these people have such connection to seemingly unimportant items.  (In case you didn't know, I am fascinated with understanding why people do what they do even though it creates havoc in their lives.)

Perhaps I love this show because my anal retentive personality is chomping at the bit to gather up all the mess and put it all in perfectly labelled see-through totes.  (My heart feels giddy at that thought!  Sad, isn't it?)

And maybe I love this show because I , despite being 95% anal, can empathize. 

Just "getting rid" of stuff is sometimes really difficult. Stuff has memories attached; sometimes good, sometimes bad -- but memories nonetheless.

Maybe I am a hoarder, just like those people on the show.

Maybe my need to organize is just "pretty hoarding."

So, let me show you how I justified not getting rid of some of R's old jammies.

They were just so cute and I had such happy memories of her in them that I just had to come up with a way to hold on to them.

So I cut and pinned and sewed and.....

...new winter scarves!

Did I do a good thing, recycling?

Or is this just pretty hoarding?

We All Have Our Issues

As I mentioned on Monday, I am committed to handmade.

Maybe committed is the wrong word.

Can you say "addicted?"

That's me!

If I see something cute, then I find myself dreaming up a reason to give it a try. 

No real need to do it; just my ever-growing addiction requiring attention!

I saw little ballerina valentine cards at TinyPrints.com -- they were just so cute I talked Rachel into letting me make them for her to take to her Ballet class (apparently the last year for this --"I'm too old for this stuff, Mom.").

But aren't they cute?

Happy Valentine's Day, Class 3A !!!!!

I have made a little mini-vow to do things handmade. 

To make goodies instead of buying them. 

Why? 

Well, first because I think it's cheaper (I am sure in many instances it might not actually be so). 

Second, because I love handmade things -- I love knowing that someone took the time and effort to make something special and wonderful.

Third, because I want to know that when I see some spectacular creation that I can look at said creation and confidently say (to myself!)  "I can do that!"

I guess no. 3 is really the main reason I am going the handmade route.

It's all about the self-esteem -- how to get, how to build it, how to keep it moving in a positive direction.

We all just want to feel good about ourselves, about the choices we make, and how we live everyday.

So...here comes Valentine's Day. How do you do handmade for your child's school celebration?  So many of us have learned that something packaged from a store is better.  But is it?

Little Miss Rachel found these "really cool" iCarly valentine cards at the store. "Oh, these are great, Mom."

"But I thought we were making Valentines for your class."

"Oh."

Is it wrong to push your values on to your child?  Is it really pushing? Or is it a teaching moment?

I don't know.

I just want her to know that she can create... that she can create wonders...that she can be proud and amazed at what her efforts brought forth...that she can create a positive self-worth from what she did herself.

There is sooo much stuff out there  (and goodness knows, there is a lot of stuff in here, too). 

I just want her to learn how to value what is around her.

So, sorry iCarly (is it wrong that I really like that show?).

We did it ourselves this year.

The beginning...

The results!

Thank you to skiptomylou.org!

Let The Valentine Celebrations Begin

As I mentioned yesterday, I have a gift for wasting whole days dreaming of what could be -- only to be met with the few aspirations actually achieved.

Every year, I think I will get ahead of each holiday celebration and actually be prepared for when the day arrives.  Alas, yet another dream.

But this is the year!  I am going to make it happen!  I am going to make myself proud! 

Well,....we'll see.

A Great Sunday Afternoon

As a mom, don't you just love it when you know you have an allotment of time when you know nobody is going to bother you?

Okay....I know what you're thinking:  Jen, you're at home alone five days a week!

Yes, I know, I know.  But somehow I get more done when I only have a short amount of time to accomplish a list of things;  deadlines make me so efficient. When I have a whole empty ahead of me, I tend to daydream about what I could do instead of actually doing something! 

So today, whilst the troops were frolicking in the snow building forts and sled runs, I did this.  Isn't she cute?

I made her using a pattern from bitofwhimsy.

She was lots of fun to make. I used terry cloth from an old project. Anyone ever used terry cloth in their sewing machine? Wow, what a mess!!!  Little bits of fluff everywhere!  Oh well, I still think she's a cutie!

Take just one moment....

Anyone who knows me at all knows that there certain things that I hate.

There are many things that I don't like (let's be honest, I'm a bit of complainer) but there a few specific things that I really and truly hate:

(1) the size of my behind

(2) when there is no chocolate in the cupboard (see no. 1) and

(3) cancer.

Sometimes just hearing that word can send me into a downward spiral of sadness and anger. 

It makes me sad that my mom and dad aren't here anymore....that they never got the chance to hold Rachel.

It makes me sad that Colette isn't here anymore to tell me her views on how I could do something better.

Even though these three special people each had a different form of cancer, in my opinion, cancer of any kind is the enemy.

So if there something you or I can do to help someone get ahead of the enemy, I believe we should.

Pray, donate, volunteer, click.

Yes, that's right click.

If you go to

thebreastcancersite.com

 and click (it's totally free), you can help someone (someone's mom, best friend, sister) fight the fight against breast cancer.

It will take less than 60 seconds and perhaps it can save a life.

Let's End Texting While Driving

We all hear sad stories.

Stories about how there was an accident. 

Oh, that's so terrible, we say. 

Why did that happen?, we ponder.

That should never have happened, we determine.

Well, probably 98% of all things that "should not have happened" happen because of a single choice that was made.    A choice that did not have to be made.  But "I just wanted to make a quick call."  Or "I'll just send a quick text."

If you're driving, drive!  Nothing else! 

I can promise you nothing that is said in that "quick" call or text is worth the life of my family or anyone else.

Put down your phone.  Pull over.  Park your car. 

My family thanks you.

The Real Message..well, what we got out of it anyway!

We are officially the biggest fans of American Girl. Well, not officially, but big fans nonetheless.  The first doll arrived in 2005, beautiful Marisol, to be followed by the Bitty Twins and the Just-Like-Me doll, and countless outfits, shoes, and accessories.

Imagine the excitement when there was to be an in-theatres-only movie of Kit Kittredge in the summer of 2008. Well, we waited patiently, checking the movie listings in the newspaper everyday only to realized the dream wasn't happening for us. We had to wait for Santa to bring a DVD copy at Christmas.  But worth the wait it was; Rachel has probably watched it 30 times (me, at least 10). 

Then came Chrissa in January, 2009.  (Thank goodness that movie came out directly to DVD.) The story is about standing up to bullies and that it is not wrong to tell someone if that is happening.  Great movie; led to lots of discussions of growing up, being kind, and being strong.

Where is this commercial for American Girl going?  Hang on.

In the movie some of the girls had these cute knit winter hats that allowed a ponytail to "pop" through.  So, despite all the lessons learned about self-esteem and being a good friend, what did we walk away with in our minds?  Those hats!!!  We had to have one (or two...)!  So begins my attempts at knitting a hat.  Funny, isn't it? Me? Knit?  Craziness!

Santa Art had brought a knitting loom for Christmas that year and off we went.  Twenty attempts later, hat-happiness was created!  A new one was requested for this winter....a girl just can't have enough accessories, can she?

Once in a while, I actually feel a wee bit of pride for pulling it off.  It's a hard audience to please around here.

Happy Birthday, Elisabeth!!!

Our delicious little cousin Elisabeth turned the big "6" yesterday.  It is simply amazing how fast time goes by...it seems only yesterday that her dad called and gushed of her arrival.  Elisabeth has a bubbly personality, always smiling and cheerful.  So we decided to create a little bubbly girl just for her.

Thanks to bitof whimsy for such a cute pattern!