337/366: The Clean Before the Festival

I spent part of the day cleaning the living room. I'm halfway through the dining room.

The boys are itching to decorate for Christmas, now, we can.

Rudolf is on tonight, I think it will be Perfect.

336/366: Happy Ugly Sweater Day

It's nothing official, just made it up. Mostly so that I could show you this:

335/366: Looking Up

As I sit here trying to hold in a yawn, my eyes are drawn upwards to the magnificent ceiling above. We are in the library at the Clement House. The ceiling is as beautiful as the goods for sale here.

It's been a great weekend. Three more hours till pack up.

Thanks to the American Red Cross for hosting us all. It was wonderful.

334/366: It's Time

I am here. The show time has finally arrived.

I'm exhausted.

333/366: Crossing-Out

Last night I made a list.

Half for today, half for tomorrow

I generously added some items that weren't a priority, but if the time was available, I could work on them.

So, the monster pillow, monster framed, grey wonky purse and two additional vintage pillows will not be in the show. That's okay...I never was happy with them.

I'm trimming the last of the gift card holders tonight, and stuffing two pillows. Then, I'll start packing, that's the second part of the list.

Oh, and I have a dental appointment tomorrow! Six months ago it sounded like a perfectly fine day.

Not so much now.

332/366: Gift Card Holders Reworked

This one I like. The others were nice, but a bit cheesy. I like cheese (not when it's warm), but I don't care for cheesy.

The samples were in regular craft felt. These are in wool felt. The colors choices for wool felt are very limited, and I didn't want green. These can be used as a regular ornaments after the gift card is used, or regifted. I am going to switch up the colors and thread, as well.

I found these cute tags so that the recipients name can be written on it. Not sure about the hemp string vs. ribbon. I need to stew on that for a bit.

Good news, I have 99% of the two quilts done. The remaining is removing the pins and clipping stray thread. I still wish I could do one more quilt, it's brewing in my head. I think, however, I'm at a decent point to finish up loose ends on little projects at this point.

Someone tell me not to attempt quilt number three....intervention?

Oh, also, I just found out that a sample of artists' work will be on Winging It! tomorrow. I'd don't think I'll be able to get some samples of my own downtown tonight for the show, but please tune in!

That's quite a bit of electronic time, I must sew...

331/366: Clement House

I am getting really excited for this show. The building is beautiful, the weekend will be great and I am feeling good about my products. Of course I'd like to take more, but I'm doing what I can. Tonight I hope to finish two quilts and felt some last minute additions.

Thanks for all your support...liking my posts, cheering me on and your plans to shop for the Red Cross this weekend.

A special thanks to my Dad and my Husband. Both were very supportive these last two days. It's really nice to hear from a man, my "girly" type products are good.

I know I'm a post behind...I'll catch up when I feel doubly inspired.

330/366: Progress

Love this machine.

So do the boys. They have me making trading cards in mitten shapes with their "favorite" stitch. With over 70 stitches, this could mess with my schedule!

This is the half way point of the first Blanquilt, still in pieces.

Sewing, laundry and watching the first snowfall...lovely.

329/366: Perhaps Not the Best Timing

Tom took the boys out to lunch today and I sat at the sewing machine. I made fairly good progress. I completed two pillows and created another.

Then I started on a blanquilt. This one is all special stitches and cut outs. I think it will be the more challenging of the three I have hopes of completing. The other two will be vintage lace and doilies.

As I was sewing, my machine started to clunk. The needle was making a louder than normal sound when puncturing the fabric. I changed the needle, checked the bobbin, rethreaded the machine, all to no avail. So, I kept sewing. Clunk clunk clunk. I open up the machine and cleaned out the dust and lint. Clunk clunk clunk.

I was adding a long piece and started the thread. The bobbin thread wasn't coming from the needle hole. I attempted the rethread it. Busted. The needle wasn't catching the bobbin thread. I removed all the bobbin components. Nothing. Changed the needle. Nothing. Freaked out.

YouTubed. if that isn't a word, it should be. Unfortunately, it appears my problem is the timing. I found a video on how to adjust the gears. Can't be that hard, right? I'll never know. I unscrewed all the screws to take the case apart to find the gears. I couldn't get the darn thing open.

Freak out, again.

Tom make this much too long. Story shorter, I bought a new machine. The one I had, has lasted me a longtime and I am thankful. It made lots of love. And now it will find a home in a dump somewhere.

I am so tired tonight, that I think I'll just head to bed and set up the new machine tomorrow morning. Sorry church, I'll see you in a couple weeks...I have a date with a Singer.

328/366: Another Shameful Catch Up Post

It's very late. I am chilling out after a relaxing day with my brother in law and sister in law. We just hung out at my house while the little men in our lives played together. It was great.

I so wish their cousin lived closer, but nights like this are so special. You see, our NJ cousin is spending the night here, in our home.

Little Man couldn't take the chatter any longer and ambled up to his room. He is a sensible sleeper.

The other two are, I think, finally asleep. It's been a while since I heard anything from the family room. I want to be sure before I turn off the tv. The sleep process can be a long one with a guest in the house.

As for me, I'm trying to fight a head cold and begin the blanquilts tomorrow. I have to.

Wait, tomorrow is technically today. Perhaps I hear the faint sound of my pillow calling my name.

327/366: Grateful

I had my iPad with me for the past two days, but more than 90% of the time it was in the hands of a happy boy.

We are having a great Thanksgiving.

I am so thankful that we are healthy and safe and protected from the winds blowing through my neighborhood.

Many wishes for a healthy holiday season!

326/366: AKA 40 Remaining Days!

New product!  I've been trying to come up with some smaller items (I know, just over a week away) that I can work on while at the show and to fill out my table.  I love mitten ornaments and I was trying to come up with something for the men at the show.  Granted, this one is red, but I'm going to make some more masculine mittens.

As I sit by my sewing machine this weekend, I'll be thinking about how all the rushing around will calm down in a mere 40 days.  I feel quite pressured this week, but need to remember that soon enough, I may likely say I'm bored.

326 Consecutive daily (mostly) posts is pretty impressive.  Honestly, I didn't think I could do it this far.

If you are in Buffalo, please take some time to visit the Artists in Buffalo presents Holiday Open Studios and Galleries.  It really is turning out to be an amazing event.  I'll be at the Red Cross Building in the Library in front of the fireplace.  Nice and cozy.  In fact, here is a picture of my backdrop:

More information on the show is here.

And if you are familiar with my work, you will see a spec of it on this above postcard...

325/366: Schnazzy

I'm blinging it up over here. It still amazes me how a simple bead or set of beads can take a dull, lackluster purse and make it bright and fresh.

I have ten purses complete, plus four more at a local gift shop. I hope to finish these up this weekend and move on to the blanquilts. I know I'm pushing it with the blanquilts versus the time I have remaining. My problem arises when the boys are out playing, or have friends over. I don't like being in the basement at the sewing machine, unless the boys are in the basement with me.

Today, the procrastination ends. I have to get working on the blanquilts. They are going to be beautiful. They've been on my mind for weeks now!

Tonight, tonight I'll start.

Or maybe tomorrow.