Kitty Success and Other Things

I would call that a successful gift. Lauren just turned six and she seems to have enjoyed the ballerina kitty! Too cute!

I haven't had much time to make crafts lately, but hopefully will have time again. The month of June was a busy one; I worked three out of four weekends and traveled on the weekend off (the 14th) to attend Becky's wedding shower and visit my family. I also brought my youngest sister Sarah home with me for the rest of the summer. We have been having a nice summer, so far. Yesterday we made a picnic dinner to eat on the deck for the Fourth. Today we are planning on having a crafty day. Hopefully it gets warmer outside, though, I'm freezing!

Vintage Fourties Style Baby Quilt

Done at last...hard to photograph this inside. I'll try a better photo some other time when it's not 90 degrees and humid! It didn't come out as perfect as I'd like...I'm fussy. I think the baby won't mind, though. He was born on June 2nd and is 7 pounds 7 ounces!

Pattern for embroideries are from Patternbee and the print fabric is Merry Bonbon reproduction fabric from Japan via Reprodepot. I may have mentioned before, but the embroideries are reprints of the same ones that were in my Grandma Wood's sewing box that I inherited when she died. I didn't want to use them (I wanted fresh copies) so I contacted Vicki at Patternbee and she had them available and sent them to me very quickly. I worked all winter on the embroidery!

Ballerina Kitty

This sock kitty was constructed with directions from this book and I made her a tutu to make her into a little ballerina for my niece Lauren, who will be turning 6 in a few weeks. Her tutu is made from 6" wide tulle, which I threaded onto a ribbon using a yarn needle and tied in the back. I embellished it with a ribbon rosette or two and a few leaf-shaped beads that I've had sticking around for a while. I need to think of a name for her before I send her on to her new home.

New Kish Kid

This is Audrey (Little Pippi by Helen Kish, about 8" tall, jointed). The pattern for the dress is from Rosemary Ionker's pattern book Fashions for Small Dolls and the embroidery is my own freehanded design.

A Perfect Afternoon

Today is 70 degrees, beautifully sunny, and there's a nice breeze swooshing in the trees. As it's Thursday, it's my day off, and I made my first bento lunch in the box I ordered a few months ago. There are slices of rolled up egg pancake with a tasty sauce, cheese cut into heart shapes, carrots and cucumbers, and the bottom layer has rice and some cherries. It was most delicious!


After lunch, I took advantage of the sun on the back deck to embroider for a while. I worked on the embroidery for my new nephew's quilt. He's due to arrive in a few weeks, so I need to get it done SOON! One more block left (the rocking horse).


While I was embroidering, I noticed a bandito sneaking up in the bushes to see if he could find something tasty beneath the bird feeder. Sorry about the blurred photo--he was far away. I scared him off after the picture--he's not supposed to be out at 1:30 in the afternoon!

Cute Babies

A few weeks ago, I noticed that Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal were very busy entering and exiting a bush at the corner of the house by the living room window. When they were on the other side of the house at the bird feeder, I took a peek and saw three brown-speckled creamy-colored eggs. I was careful not to open that window or disturb them, and today I heard a tremendous amount of peeping and tweeting from that area, so I looked out the window and this is what I saw! Two chicks, fluttering awkwardly from bush to bush, with two frantic parents trying to get them to behave. The parents are feeding them as they bumble about, and I got this rather blurry shot through the window screen. It's cold and raining today, but they don't seem to mind at all.

Last week, I noticed something in the grass behind the deck. It was this tiny baby bunny with two adult bunnies eating grass. He (or his friends) keep coming out every night after 5 or 6 PM and munching the grass by my kitchen window. It's hard to get a photo of him because he won't hold still, but he's too cute for words.








This is either his Mama or Papa; I'm not sure, but she or he sometimes is out with the baby, although I think Baby is pretty much on his own now.

These are just a few of the reasons that I love living where I do.

My little sister...

My little sister, Becky, is graduating from college on Saturday, set to enter one of the most admirable of professions. She'll be a wonderful teacher. She has that kind of patient, open manner that appeals to children, but has the spirit and discipline to guide them well. Best of all, she's one of the smartest people I know and guided herself through a home-schooled high school curriculum and got herself into college and on the right path in life. She's a wonderful mother to Alexis, who's growing into a beautiful young girl. Becky is thoughtful and giving, and I'm honored that she's my sister.

Gift Making

My little niece Alexis turns six in a few days. It's hard to believe that it was that long ago that she was born! I don't get to see her as often as I like because we live too far apart, but I was able to make her a gift for her special day. The bag is blue because her mom says that's her current favorite color, and I made the lions because they are her current favorite animal. Hopefully she has fun with my gift!




I used one of Floresita's Vintage Transfers for the flower sprig on the right of Alexis' name. The little wool felt lion is from a Japanese craft book pattern, and the amigurumi lion is from Ana Rimoli's pattern book.

Margot's News

Miss Margot would like to introduce you to someone.





This is Ringo, Margot's little sister.

Catnip PARTY!

Zoe's birthday was on March 29th and I've finally gotten a chance to upload the photos of her with her presents. We got a GREAT catnip mat from etsy seller MeowWow.

She shared with Brother, too.

First Flowers of Spring

It's simply gorgeous out this weekend. It's supposed to be 81 today, which is rare at best in Upstate NY in April. I'm enjoying every minute of it. The sky is a crystalline, perfect blue and the birds are beginning to match the brightness of the flowers with their colors for Spring.



Besides admiring the first few blooms of spring, I need to get organized with my projects for this spring.

1. Finish the embroidered baby quilt for my brother's baby
2. Make birthday gifts for my nieces Alexis and Jewel, then for Lauren (too many birthdays all at once!)
3. Find and hire a receptionist for work. I have 30 resumes to go through. Not a fun spring activity.
4. Graduation gift for my sister Becky (no hints here!)
5. Wedding gift for my sister Becky (hey, quit reading!)
   
6. Hmm...I'll be adding to this list as things pop into my head.
   

Glove Critters

My sister Sarah and I made some glove critters from Miyako Kanamori's book. Sarah has been visiting since last Saturday. She's 17 (the youngest!) and I remember when she was born (I was 12) so it's strange that she's already 17. Makes me feel really old!

We have also been crocheting amigurumi and Sarah has come to work with me for the day a few times, too. Work has been very busy this past week, with a lot of sick patients to worry about. On Friday I had to perform five euthanasias, the most I have ever had to do in one day. That's a HARD day. It's nice, though, to be able to come back home and work on some nice, quiet crafts.

Neapolitan Bunnies

Ellery is modeling my newest doll outfit. Ellery is a 6" baby by Helen Kish, made of resin, and the pattern for her outfit was drafted by me; all the embroidery is done by hand. The ribbons are silk and the lace is miniature french cotton lace. The jacket is 100% wool felt.



One last view to show the detail on the jacket.

More Gift-Making

I've been working on these things for a few weeks and finally finished them. They're for my niece Lily's birthday. She's turning one! The slippers below are from a free pattern from Heather Bailey's website. They're made of a felted wool sweater with leather soles and crocheted flowers. They're stretchy, so hopefully they will fit!

The lambkin here is from a free Patternbee pattern and I made his eyes and nose embroidered so that Lily can't pull them off.

And the amigurumi bunny is from the book Amigurumi World by Ana Paula Rimoli. Here's her blog to check it out.


And all together!

Happy Spring!

Here's hoping spring comes soon! Dresses above were made by my friend Monique. I recovered the stroller myself with the floral fabric, and the little Easter card is made by my friend Amy.

Pretty in Purple

Here's Tamsin in her new little outfit that I embroidered on Sunday and just finished putting together today.
Here's the detail on the hat.
The hat is made from a pattern in my new Japanese craft book For Sweet Baby, from page 33. The pattern is really for an infant, but it worked well for Tamsin by just not enlarging it. I used the pattern as it is originally sized in the book.

Newest Craftings

I received some new watercolor pencils for Christmas and decided to paint/draw one of my favorite birds, the Rosebreasted Grosbeak. We had 6 or 7 at the feeder last spring.


This is my swap gift for my Valentine Swap partner on my miniatures group. She made me a fantastic vignette and I will post a photo of that tomorrow. Everything in the photograph is handmade by me (although I used a printies file for the Valentine Album, and the tray is a brooch back with the pin removed).

Story of Stuff!

You have to check this out! It's the Story of Stuff and fits right in with my New Year's Resolutions! You need a high-speed connection to see it. It's a 20 minute video about our economy and way of life in this country.

The Story of Stuff

And also in the spirit of reduce/reuse/recycle, how about cutting down on all those catalogs that flood into the house all the time! I found this link in my Vegetarian Times magazine.

Catalog Choice

I signed up right away. Let's all reduce our junk mail.

Posy the Pixie Puppy

This is Posy the Pixie Puppy, made for Jenna's (niece) 7th birthday. Fairies are the cool thing among her set these days. I wanted to try one of the glove dogs from Miyako Kanamori's book, and this is what resulted. Her wings have lots of little glass beads on them and her collar is accented with a butterfly bead. I also made a little story book to go along with Posy that describes how she turned from a regular glove dog into a Pixie Puppy and gained the duty of dispensing Dream Dust to all the dogs and puppies! I had a great time watercoloring the illustrations for the little story book, and if there's any interest, I could probably post the book as a Word document download. Below are a few illustrations from the book. I really enjoyed this project and I hope that Jenna does, too! And yep, that is Toby in the final watercolor--he was the model for the "real" sleeping dog.

What I'm reading lately

I found this absolutely DELICIOUS book in the bookstore yesterday and brought it home with me.

Sew Pretty Homestyle

I seem to be going through a pink phase lately and this book just hits the spot! Some of my favorite projects are the little sewn strawberries that you scent with strawberry essential oil and the adorable needle cases that are accented by embroidered flowers. This lady does everything I love! Once I complete some projects I'll share some photos. I also love the quilt she has in the book and the little cats and dogs and just about everything. What a great find!

Newest embroidery

Here's the apron I embroidered for a dolly friend. It's made of a vintage handkerchief and another fabulous free embroidery pattern from Vintage Transfer Finds.

The many moods of Onyx

I was taking a photograph of one of my embroideries (on a doll apron) and Onyx decided it was photo shoot time for princesses. She climbed in the lightbox, washed her face and paws thoroughly and then sat very nicely for her photos!

Off the want list and into the house

Here's Mandy by Heidi Plusczok. Mine is renamed Kerry and is displayed with the sculpture of Toby that was done by Barlee Rumburg of Fog City Designs. Isn't she cute?

Happy New Year

Today I am feeling refreshed! It's a bright, sunny day outside and it's only 7 degrees F, as we are in the middle of a COLD snap. Toby enjoys bounding through the drifts, but his feet freeze and he holds them up pathetically. This morning, he had to wear his sweater and booties, as it was -8 outside. He does a most interesting shimmy with his booties on--he thinks he can't use his feet correctly!

He's headed back to the house in this picture, and he doesn't have on his fun outerwear because we only ran outside for a minute for a photo op!

Since it's a new, clean year, in the spirit of New Year's Resolutions, here are a few of mine (this is a work in progress):

1. Be sure to remember my seven habits, especially BE PROACTIVE! I have a bad habit of procrastinating, which is always worse in the fall and winter, when I naturally have less energy due to the shorter days.

2. Spend more time traveling this year and visiting family, especially.

3. Always make time for crafting something, anything, at least once a week.

4. Play my dulcimer at least twice a week.

5. Draw, watercolor or pastel something at least quarterly.

6. Cut down on the number of grocery bags we use this year. Try this instead.

7. Buy handmade or make most gifts this year.

Handmade Bunny

This bunny was made from a pattern in a baby crochet book and he will be for my new niece or nephew. He's so soft and cuddly. I made him from Baby Teri yarn.

Pipos Baha Kitty, home at last!

She arrived last weekend and I had a great time making clothes for her! She's a Pipos Baha, 8" ball jointed resin doll made in Korea. Mine came with green eyes, although I may buy blue ones for her, too. She looks great in pink! The embroidery design came from Vintage Transfer Finds (thank you!!) and the apron itself is sewn from a vintage hankie. The dress is from a Rosemary Ionker pattern.
Here is a slightly closer view with slightly different lighting filters. I couldn't decide which photo I liked better so they're both here.

Here she is in her underthings, which were fun to embellish!

Want List!

This is Mandy by Heidi Plusczok and she will be a friend to Norah, seen below with Mini Toby by Barlee Rumburg.