Cookies

Well the cookie making extravaganza weekend was indeed canceled.  My windshield wiper mechanism is in the backseat of my car as we speak (?! speak, type?!- hmmm) Luckily, our friend Chris is always up to a car mechanical challenge and 'fixed' it for me!  Savings of like $150 probably - right before Christmas - Thank you Chris!!

That didn't stop me from making cookies though - I had three kinds of dough already made and after a little arm-twisting (and maybe even some tears - lol) Eric did cave in to helping me - and I think in the end he might have even had some fun!  We made peanut butter blossoms, ginger molasses, and Great Gramma O's cut-out cookies...

By the time we got to the cut out cookie I think he was getting into the spirit.... (or maybe it was the other spirits he was getting into...I dunno!)

But he seemed to have some fun and even a sense of humor.  He made the Christmas Liberty Bell.

lol!  Luckily we were invited to dinner at two good friends houses on Saturday and Sunday - so I got to bring a plate of cookies to share (instead of me eating all of them!)  Unfortunately I didn't get to see BK again before Christmas, and I still have to frost all the cut out cookies (yeah, that's not gonna happen).  But I did get some more Christmas crafting done (I really can't wait to show you all I have been making!) and some house cleaning and laundry to get all ready for our trip home this week!  Only two more days!  Yippeee!

Cookies ... Cancelled?!?

Alas, the cookie baking extravaganza weekend maybe cancelled, and not on account of anything fun - like snow!  (unfortunately - b/c I would choose snow over the 33 degree rain with 20mph winds we ARE having ANY day..)

Instead, it may be cancelled b/c in my anal retentive ways this morning, I couldn't STAND to have a leaf going - back, and forth, back, and forth, back, and forth, across my windshield.  So I rolled my window down, gave my wiper a quick snap - and well, broke it.  (I know...my brute strength is amazing right?!?)

Well - its gonna be rainy and dark (bad combination for me driving to begin with) but add REALLY cold, alone on the interstate, and no windshield wipers - and well, it just becomes a bad idea.  So short of getting home and Eric saying 'Oh!  This is why!", and clicking it back together (which won't happen b/c our mntc guy at work couldn't do that!) then I won't be on my way to Chapin for any of this...

and these...

or donning our cookie making war paint...

 or spending the weekend with my BFF

Ahhh Man!!  Why do I have to be so anal and ruin all my own fun?!?  :(

(there will still be cookies though - but making them in my small kitchen by myself - boo!)

Plans...

When I am done with all my Christmas Crafting (and who knows if I will ever get it all done - why oh why did I think I needed something handmade for EVERYONE?!?)  Anyway - if I ever get it all done, I have big plans...

This bag is in my plans...

And this pink is in my plans...a quilt?  The patchwork AB bag? (from In Stitches?)  Who knows...but there will be pink!

Hmmm...what are your plans after the Holidays?

Crafty Blogs gone MIA...

I think I am noticing that I am not the only crafty blogger slacking off on my posting as the holiday season nears.  Seems that as you spend all your available crafting time making handmade gifts - gifts for Christmas that you can't put up on your blog because they are for people who read your blog!  (Especially if like me your mom is the only one who reads your blog!  Hi Mom!!)

There are other signs that you might be using all your time to make handmade holiday gifts...

your house probably looks something like this...

With crafts in the living room (see the blurry part on the table at the bottom of the picture?)

And like this...

With multiple LISTS of things that you need to get made hanging on your craft room wall

and even like this...

With the first piles of finished things...(that you can take vague enough pictures of that your family and friends won't guess what they are)

Sad thing is, if your house looks like this you might ALSO have friends stop by and tell you (true story) that your house looks like a "Craft Explosion!"  Now this comment might cause one to feel bad, OR you might actually feel kinda proud that the explosion of fun Christmas Crafts might bring joy to your loved ones this Christmas season (then again, it might cause them awkward situations where they thank you for your strange assortment of handmade gifts!)  lol - here's hoping they go over well!

Happy Christmas Crafting!!

Christmas Crafts

Things have been a little slow around here... there should be alot of Christmas gift crafting going on (handmade gifts and all that I had high hopes for)... and well there is a little of that...

But mostly I have been obsessing about making this wreath.  Last year, Starbucks had these in their stores, and I was thisclose to having my hands on one.  The guy even called me and told me I could come pick it up (for free!!) but it was in Charleston and I never made my way back down there and I am KICKING myself over it!  But I started my own (with mostly stash yarn - how embarrassing is that?!?) and its going okay.  The green yarn balls are looking okay, but I am worried about the assembling portion.  We'll see.

Here is what I have so far...

 And let me tell you - you think it will be 'cheap' b/c the foam balls are the bulk of the size - but it still takes quite a bit of yarn.  Here is me hoping its all worth it in the end.

(p.s.  No yarn was harmed in the making of this wreath - I am trying to figure out how to attach it without glue even so it can all be used again later if and when I decide a yarn Christmas Wreath was a bad idea, or I just need some green yarn!)

What are you making this Christmas?

Voting Open

I might have mentioned (maybe about a dozen times already) that I am going to be an aunt (soon!)  We are throwing Kelly a shower at home over Christmas and I want to make her some burp cloths (to get her started).  They aren't finding out if they are having a boy or a girl (so exciting!) so I want to make the burp cloths neutral. 

After sorting through my stash again and again, I decided on these two options - which 'set' do you like better?

Option A

or Option B

I think A is more fun -but I don't know if it is neutral enough (its mostly the Red Letter Day fabric I have picked out to make them things if its a boy!)

I need advice - which one do you like?

Pheobe

Remember yesterday's bagaholic comment...well I promise a whole post on it soon - and I might come completely clean.  Or I might not - but I adore bags.  (Not expensive Coach bags or anything) but practical (so they can be changed often) bags...

So I made this one the other night. 

I saw the Pheobe pattern on Sew Mama Sew's Handmade Christmas and thought it was very cute.  Nevermind I had just finished my Birdie Bag and will probably not carry it (or have anyone to give it to).  But I loved the bag, wanted to make it and this new Amy Butler Love fabric looks sooo great on it (don't you think?!)  (and how appropriately named b/c I do LOVE her fabrics!) 

Anyway - this is the same picture but with a flash...which one looks better?!? - I am soo bad at trying to capture pictures of my crafts in the dark dark winter (non)-light. 

Good news is my husband thinks this is the best looking bag I have ever made (he really likes the fabric for some reason) and I am hoping maybe I can talk him into carrying it  :)  j/k.

Happy Crafting!

I am a bagaholic...

Charm Design Bags and Totes $50 gift card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

More on me being a bagaholic later (oh - but really I am!!) - however, being a bagaholic might be why I HAVE to tell you about this giveaway - so I could maybe win a chance at one of these bags! Gorg!!

check em all out here!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charmdesign/

3...2...1...

Three...

three socks without a partner...

Two...

 

 

two feet without a sock...

(sorry about the pic - I love it!  Its from my wedding - the photographer caught me with the pre-wedding nerves having to pee - in my wedding shoes!  lol!)

 

One...

One serious problem.... This is the sock yarn in my bag right now - not any of the other three.  

 

I have three socks finished and not a pair to wear!  Hmmm... and a serious case of second sock syndrome apparently.  :)

What are you making?

O Happy Day!

I finally finished it!!  I started this quilt back in the summer and I procrastinated and procrastinated and then I maybe even procrastinated some more.  In the end I still love the overall look of this quilt (totally and unabashedly copied from Ashley ) but I am not very pleased with my quilting skills (man putting that big thing through my machine was tough!)  or how the binding turned out.  But its for me, and it was a learning experience and I am still very proud that its done (and ready to keep me warm this winter and remind me of brighter days - I HATE the winter!)

Its a lap quilt about 54" x 60"

and the back

Ta-da!  So what do you think?  How did it turn out!?  :)

Here's hoping this is enough motivation to get me back in the sewing room this week! 

Exciting...

I quilted it!  I quilted it!  And took it on vacation and put the binding on too!!  Hoping to get pictures in daylight this week - we'll see!  :)

Not the only Crafter

(I finished the quilt!! I finished the quilt!!) - Wait a minute - this post isn't about me.  We'll get back to that (See, we have been gone a week and there is ALOT to show...soo excited - gonna be a big week in these blogland parts...but anyway - to stay in chronological order...ahem, where were we?!?  riiight...)

Not the only crafter...

So I have not been the only one crafting around here.  My hubby has been busy free handing patterns, cutting them out (using all my cool scrapbooking tools that have been severely neglected) and then painting...

and painting.... and painting some more....

But I think the results are pretty cool - what do you think?

I think $70 worth of spray paint went a loooong way and I know Eric is really happy with it and very excited that it is ready in time for duck season.  I am still learning what it means to be married to a hunter (aka earlier mornings than working days - but lots of free time to craft while they hunt...) but I didn't know until last week that a hunter also needed to be a crafter!  I think he makes a pretty good one huh?

FMF Giveaway

I have never had the pleasure of using Flea Market Fancy fabric because by the time I got around to quilting (and obsessing over fabric) it was already long gone.  But I do love the way it looks on all the quilts around the internet that I see...

That's why I am pretty excited that some people really want to bring it back, and have started a (valid) petition to bring it back.  Not only that - but they are also giving some of it away!!

So click here - and check it out - sign the petition - and hopefully I win the fabric so you can see it on my blog :)

Birdie Sling!

Yea!!

I LOVE this bag!  Yes, its huge - and I am well, short and kinda small - but whatev!  I am totally and completely in love with AMH fabric and this bag....love love love!

Wanna see another one?!  Because once I finished this bag I carried it around the house like I was gonna go somewhere (yeah right - at 10pm!) all night long.  I changed it out to be my purse today -and I might carry it forever and ever - b/c I love it!

Now I am thinking - My SIL loves BIG bags - maybe she needs one...but I am not sure I could give one up if I made it! 

Okay - one confession - I am going to lose ALL my stuff in this bag and carry waaaayyy too much stuff (because I can!) And using a bag this big - there really need to be way more pockets (and maybe not so deep).  Lesson learned - but honestly - I don't care!

Yeah!  I finished something - AND I like it - yeah!  :)  Hope you are having a good week too!

Weekend Sewing

So.. I did sew this weekend - I didn't get the whole quilt done as I had hoped... but I got the back made,

 

Laid the whole thing out and basted

and then I froze again (well, not completely.  I did quilt a few rows - and I'm not happy with it.  I love this quilt front and I don't want to mess it up with my crappy quilting skills...ugh!) (and please forgive the crappy pictures too - seems we have very little natural light ANYWHERE in our house).

Anyway - I decided on Sunday to procrastinate some more and made some squares for the quilt along.  I have been really interested in joining an online quilting bee - but I am still a little nervous that my piecing skills aren't up to par for sending out to other people.  I did add them to the flickr group though, and I am feeling very official.  Ha!

 So how do you think I did?!  Am I an official quilter (or quilt top maker anyway!)  High hopes for the rest of the week - we'll see!

Not so Productive...

I had hoped to have more to show you this week than pieces of a bag just cut out - but it turns out I can't read directions very well and didn't order fabric for the lining.  Even in that cabinet full of fabric I didn't have anything that would work with these big bold colors.  (probably b/c its mostly other big bold colors!) 

So I ordered some online that I hope will come in soon *crosses fingers* and next week I will have a finished birdie sling.
 

Until then though, I did get my Kona Color Card - AMAZING!!  I want to order more colors just so I HAVE them now!!  I can't wait to try some of the grays and khakis instead of just white - now that I can see them ahead of time and take a much better guess at ordering the right color!

I already ordered the solid color for the back of my first quilt (yes, finally) and pieced part of the back last night.  I hope to finish that this weekend and actually have something to show you!!
To be honest, I am just really excited to have a weekend at home!!  :)  Hope you have a good weekend too!

A little more SAFF

There are a couple more fun things to show you from SAFF.  First, you might have noticed that almost ALL of my yarn came from Miss Babs!  Well, when checking out Miss Babs herself was ringing us up and I took the opportunity to take a quick picture of her with Millie (and oddly enough -she was the one who took our group shot the next day!)

Also - Millie and I had gotten quite winded from our shopping and took a view overlooking Miss Babs crazy crowded booth and lo and behold - we see Morgan...

Finally besides all the yarn oogling, and shopping and fun we had - we also took some classes.  Millie and I both took a class to learn corrugated ribbing...

Then on Sunday we took a class to learn fair isle knitting.  Silly me was thinking intricate colorwork sweaters - which I guess is the point when you get good at it - but we worked on this handwarmer.  (seriously?!?  what good is a handwarmer? without a thumb hole even... but the star was pretty and I did take a picture before I ripped it all out!)

 Little did I know that I had already done 'fair isle' knitting - its color work with only two colors in any row (vs. intarsia - which is what I REALLY need to learn).

This is one of my FAVORITE things I ever knit - my center square hat.  Eric will tell you its b/c its pink and brown (my FAVE colors together!) but I think its that and the circles and the accomplishment of the colorwork (okay, it doesn't hurt that its pink and brown!!)

That is really all my SAFF photos now (well that I plan to post anyway) - and I am working on some new crafts - so hopefully something to show by the end of the week!

Baby Shower Details

Thought I would keep the baby shower details off the main blog (especially since it includes alot of things we crafted for the weekend!) The shower was for our good friend Kelli. (here she is with her diaper cake - isn't she the most adorable pregnant! She LOVES it too - says she'd be a surrogate if we need it - keeps her MS at bay and she is super happy! - you can see it!)


Our theme was Nursery Rhymes (and books - we had each guest bring a book in addition to their gift b/c as a teacher we thought Kelli would appreciate the books! - see them all on the mantel!)


we also had nursery rhyme plates, and napkins...


and an amazing spread of desserts!


That is monogram cookies and candy bars, chocolate covered strawberries, decadent brownies, peanut butter chocolate rice krispie treats, chocolate covered pretzels, biscotti dipped in white chocolate, and cupcakes (oh and some veggies - but blah! ha!) It was soo amazingly yummy!

So decorations, and food and diaper cakes - but we were also working hard last week to make (part) of Kelli's gift. This is a rag quilt I sewed for her. (The printed fabric has nursery rhyme characters on it too!)

We also made a basket full of other goodies (tag blanket, burp cloths, more books!) It was alot of fun and a great success!

I sure hope a good time was had by all! We sure had fun planning and making everything - (oh and I am soo looking forward to making something for ME this week! lol!)