Shop Talk as well as misc chatter

We have Valentine's Day on the brain over at Collage. We'd love for you to check out our newest offerings and see if you don't just fall in love! (New items are available for preview until they're released for sale at noon eastern today!)



Speaking of love, we just celebrated the 7th birthday of my son, Mason, last Thursday. He's such a sweet, little guy! Can you believe that his requested birthday presents were a super soft blanket, a gameboy game, and candy. Those things together are his idea of a good time.

Oh...also! Book love! I have been coveting this book for the longest time. I finally got my hands on it and I adore it! I'm totally jonesin' for some spare time so I can play!!

I also read this book recently and it, too, was wonderful. I just love Louisa May Alcott's stories. I don't know how this one managed to evade me until now!



And another little something I'm completely in love with is the quilt I received in the Four Seasons' Quilt Swap. Look how absolutely at home it looks on my wall! Thank you, so much, Courtney!! (you can click on the picture for a larger version)

I'll try to not be so scare this week! :-)

Back in the Saddle

Life seems to have transitioned back to normal. The house is back in order. My back has mostly healed (I didn't mention it but I pulled something in my back and it's taken a good 2 weeks to recover). We're very close to resuming our homeschooling schedule. And I'm getting back to crafting.



I don't have much to show for my return to crafting just yet. I dyed 5 yards of felt over the weekend though. And I have a pile of wrapped bendy doll bodies whom I will be working on finishing over the next few days.

I've also been on a mission to shrink up any of the new felt yardage that's made it way into my stash recently. And then I did something stupid. I forgot what led to the last time I had to make a new cover for my ironing board. Red felt. And since I forgot, I did it again.



You see, when I shrink felt (which makes it much thicker and nicer!) I wet it and toss it into the dryer. I don't dry it all the way. I take it out when it's still damp and then iron it smooth again, which dries it almost completely. Wet red felt = a big red stain on the pretty ironing board cover. As soon as I did it I remembered that I had done this before!

On another note, I think I've mentioned my odd little book collection here before. I love books that have dolls who are alive as the main characters. Not creepy, spooky dolls-more along the lines of Raggedy Ann, Hitty, etc.

About a week ago Isabelle and I went to the bookstore. We were browsing the children's books and this book caught my attention. It was on the shelf with its cover facing out and I suspected it might just be my kind of book. Well I read it last night and absolutely loved it!! So much that I actually cried more than once while reading it. If you get a chance, I highly recommend The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. I plan to start reading it to the children tonight.

Book Review!

It's been another busy week with not enough blog posting. But, again, so much has been accomplished around here. Including a bit of sickness. Which has, thankfully, passed.

I'd like to start by talking a little about a book we were invited to review, I Love You More by Laura Duksta.

I have to admit, I was hesitant that it would go over well with my almost 7 year old son, Mason. He's at that age, you know, where hugs and kisses are the ickiest things ever. A "snuggle up with momma" book...I wasn't sure it would be a hit.

However, he really liked it.

What's neat about this book is it's a flip book. One side is from the mother to her son. I read that side first and perhaps saw the slightest of eye rolls (combined with some snuggling though!) from my son.

Then I flipped it and read the side from the boy to his mother. This side was filled with boy-friendly imagery (caterpillars, rocket ships, frogs) and seemed to hit a soft spot in the heart of my little guy. He voluntarily hugged me when we finished. For a few moments I got my little snuggle-bug back.

Such a sweet book!

Harry Potter Day

We don't expect to see much of Isabelle today. The UPS truck came by with the final book in the series about 9am this morning.

Last night we all went to see the latest movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix. Or, as Mason calls it, Harry Potter and the Order of the Felix.

Other than that, not much has gone on here the past week. I've been sick and have tried to stay dosed up on as much benadryl as a human body can handle to take the edge off the scarlet fever rash that accompanied the strep throat. Antibiotics took care of the throat issue but, apparently, the rash has to run its course. Bleck.

I wasn't getting much sympathy at home until I pointed out that scarlet fever is what led to Beth's demise (in Little Women). Even Isabelle was able to deduce that with antibiotics, it wasn't nearly so dangerous. Her sympathy waned a bit when she figured that out. ;-)

The Wild Things quilt and I have plans to watch some movies in a bit though. I can't stay away from crafting for too long!

Just for fun I'll share some of the hilarious pictures I found on my camera just now.

A new series of children's books

I want to tell you all about a new series of children's books that we've had the pleasure of previewing. The series is called Fairy Chronicles. You can take a peek at their site here

The first book in the series is Marigold and the Feather of Hope, the Journey Begins and it is such a sweet book! I read it to Mason, a few chapters a night, at bedtime. Isabelle came and listened in, too.

I was really impressed with the gentleness of the story. It seems so many stories (whether in print or in movies/tv shows) are good vs. evil. And most really trump up the evil for dramatic effect. Amazingly, this book managed an interesting plot with all sorts of fairy-realm characters without resorting to darkness.

Also nice is that the fairy-realm characters are human children who can magically transform. They use their fairy abilities to affect positive change on the world around them. Fairies are "problem fixers". I can see some wonderful, creative imaginative play being inspired here!



We've just started reading the second book, Dragonfly and the Web of Dreams and we're enjoying it just as much, so far.

I also wanted to add, from a homeschooling-mom perspective, that this series fills a bit of a void. You know how once your child graduates from the 80-90page beginner chapter books, there isn't much a a next step? They're expected to move straight into 200-300page books with few, if any, pictures and much smaller type. These books have around 120-130pages, larger type, and they're full of colorful pictures. A perfect "next step".

Anyway, just wanted to share our experience with you! Have a lovely Wednesday!!

I had a great mail day today! I received this book and, let me tell ya, it's wonderful! I've been on a bit of a quest for the perfect cross stitch pattern reference and I think this might just be it. So if you like putting together your own designs but need a little help with the individual motifs, like I do, you may need this book.

Are you wearing your thinking cap? A friend has asked me to see if any of you wonderfully creative bloggers might have an idea for her. She has a bunch of old, extra bath towels that she'd like to repurpose, perhaps as a rug. Do you have any ideas how she can make this work? (thanks!)

My redwork swap project is FINISHED! I can't wait to show it to you all. But you (and me!) will have to be patient until it's received.

Crafting at a feverish pace

It seems yet another round of sickness has come to visit. Isabelle came down with it Tuesday and she has shared with me. I'm still in the early stages so I'm on a mission to wrap up a few projects before I lose my momentum.

The Annie is nearing completion. I've made up a couple bows for her hair but they're still in my workbasket. I haven't quite decided if she needs one or two.

I still need to embroider and sew her collar (it's drawn out on that bit of muslin in the front of the picture). She is also waiting on her chef's hat. I need to whip up some cinnamon dough and make her a basket of cookies. And her clothing is way too pristine. Some walnut ink is called for, I think.



I painted a frame for the kitten embroidery I did the other day. I need to assemble it all still. I've finally decided what I'm going to do with the blank wall in my hallway. I'm going to fill it with bits of stitchery and such in funky, fun frames.

Now that I'm seeing them together, I think that this red frame will be put aside for something else. It's just *too* red, dontcha think? I'm thinking perhaps yellow would be better for the kitten. Yellow with white daisies, maybe...

I've been trying to come up with a plan for this wall for the longest time. The hallway leads from the main areas of the house to the bedrooms...with a stop at the bathroom on the way. The in-progress embroidery in the first picture is intended for this wall as well. Except it keeps whispering to me that it would like to be a tea cozy. I haven't decided whether I'll listen to it or not. ;-)



Oh! Today was another good mail day! Six new (to me, at least) crafty books and a JoAnn ad. It doesn't get much better than that!

Wow! I can't believe I went 6 whole days without blogging! I've been busy with fun stuff like organizing closets (to find homes for new Christmas toys) and crafty supplies.

I also had friends over a couple days this week. On Thursday my friend, Melissa, came over with her sewing machine so she could get started learning to sew. We both made table runners using the winter quilt squares I received in a swap. My table runner is shown here, sharing space with Mason's "moon sand".

Melissa did an amazing job with her first sewing projects. I can tell that before long her skills will far surpass mine. I'm a total rule breaker and already I can see that she's going to be a stickler for rules.



I stitched up this little kitten the other day. I've totally got embroidery on the brain lately. And I'm loving redwork. Embroidery goes soooo fast when I'm not constantly changing colors.

I got this design at
Needlecrafter (click library, then designs). I print them out and trace the design directly onto my fabric with a water soluble marker.



Since I've admitted to my book hoarding tendencies, I suppose I'll share my latest acquisitions. I just love paging through a good crafty book. I've been accumulating this pile of books over the past 6 weeks or so. But I've been so busy with holiday orders that I haven't done much more than peek at them.

I still haven't gotten to making any little sparkly winter houses or paperclay snowmen. Soon, though...very soon. :-)

Things that make me smile

This book arrived the other day and I am completely enchanted! As is becoming a normal occurrance, it's all Bettsi's fault. Do you see that sweet doll she made? Ack! Too sweet!

And those most-amazing, giant, acorn caps were given to me by my friend, Becka. I can't wait to use them as doll hats!(click on the pictures for a better view)

The little quilted mat was something I made on a whim with a few of my leftover quilt squares from the swap. We often fill up a big glass pitcher with ice water for the dinner table. It tends to sweat a puddle of water onto the wood. So I made this mat with 2 layers of cotton batting inside to sit under the pitcher.

When I washed it, it got so awesomely puckery. I got so excited! I just love how quilts do that puckery thing when they're washed. Here's a picture of the back. I love how the brown fabric shows off the stitching...even if it's less than perfect.

When not in use, the little quilted mat has been kept on this doll chair under the doll's knitting/sewing basket.

There is usually a doll sitting there but she's been wandering around the house lately. (I'm a hopeless rearranger!)

The chair, for now, is against a small bit of wall in the dining room, by the back door. This whole little wall makes me smile! I love the tall Mama Annie. She's a vacuum cover. Only problem is, the vacuum she covers is broken. The little Annie apron on the wall is so dear to me. A lady who also hangs out at Amitymama found it while out thrifting and she knew I'd love it. It still gives me a warm fuzzy to remember finding such a wonderful surprise in my mailbox that day!

Oh! Before I forget, here's a picture of my little trick-or-treaters. :-)

I had a "do little" Sunday, yesterday. I had big plans. There was a list of things to be accomplished. But thanks to Bettsi and her reccomendation of the book, The Mennyms, I did little but read. The book was wonderful! I admit that I have a soft spot for books that feature dolls who have come to life. Now I need to read the rest of the books in the series. And I need to get to work on that list.

Orange danish...the breakfast of champions

Today was our second day back to homeschooling. The kids looked so cute eating their breakfast, with their school bins on the table ready to go, that I had to take a picture of them. I promise, Mason does not actually have yellow skin.

Nothing much to show as far as crafties go. I've stitched up a unicorn and a dragon (also for the giant order) but they aren't stuffed and they look so sad in their deflated state that I couldn't bear to take their pictures.

I've also slowed down due to a flare-up of my fibromyalgia. It's generally well controlled due to my wonderful rheumatologist. But the weather has done a major flop here (gone from summer to autumn-ish and rainy) and things like that spur on a flare. If I had seen it coming I would have delayed starting school for another week. The weather is supposed to flop back to summer so my funk shouldn't last too long. But I expect I'll be a bit on the slow side for the next couple of days.

The mailman brought me some wonderful books today, thanks to Book Closeouts. I got The Dollhouse Book, Dollhouse Decor, The Dolls' House Shopkeeper, Embroidered Treasures for Children, Folk Art Gifts, and The Forgotten Arts-Wall Stenciling. I need more shelves.

a lot of progress but not much to show

I'm in the midst of working on a lot of little bendy dolls at the same time. I've got a mini assembly line going. So even though I accomplished quite a bit today, I don't have much in the way of finished goods to show for it. These folks are 100% completely finished. The first off the line. But there are many more in various stages of nakedness and headlessness.

Can I just say that I am absolutely loving having a quilting frame. It is just so much more user-friendly than a hoop (and I had even upgraded to a q-snap hoop, which was way better than the wooden circular hoop). The fact that it's just waiting for me is going to be huge as far as actually finishing the quilting. I can just feel it. I've been quilting a square here and there since it arrived. I'll sit in the rocker with my morning coffee and next thing I know another square is quilted.

Last night Isabelle and I went fabric shopping. I needed more white wool felt as well as some autumn colored leaf prints for a quilt swap at Amity's I had planned to do some silk dyeing (and a lil' piece of velour) Friday but I held off so I could get some white felt. I am so glad I didn't get around to it today because just a few minutes ago I ran across the best idea ever here (all the way down...last thing-a-ma-bobbin on the page). And I happen to have white pearle cotton and white floss handy. Lots of it. :-D I may just need to make a dowel and candle cup run on Monday if all goes well.

Why is it that I am picturing this gaggle of bobbins in a jar? What is it with me and jars lately?!? I'm beginning to scare myself. Oooh...and I know the perfect jar too. It came with the melty nacho cheese. Short...wide mouth...perfect.

You know, I would have been really scary if I had been around back when (depression era) they were handing out bits of glassware with purchase.

On another note, Isabelle managed to twist my arm (that's my story and I'm stickin' to it) to get me to stop in Barnes&Noble after our fabric expedition. Yes, I bought a book. :-) I couldn't help myself. I got The Embroiderer's Handbook. It's an awesome book! And it's way cheaper at Amazon, I see.

For years I've had this book. It's wonderful. It clearly illustrates all the basic stitches plus some I hadn't seen elsewhere. But the new book seems to pick up where this one leaves off. It barely touches on basic stitches and it really goes into great detail on complex things that The Encyclopendia of Needlework doesn't even touch on. Beautiful and glorious things. Things that make me want to buy silk floss (which I've so far managed to avoid).

Hmmm...it seems I can be a bit chatty at 1am after drinking a quart of tea.

Happy mail in...happy mail out...

I've been stalking the mail carrier all week. Finally all that stalking paid off!

I got some stuff from Crafter's Choice, namely a book on painting watercolor fairies, a watercolor pencil kit, and the most stinkin' adorable mini-envelope punch. As soon as I get done here and do a bit of picking up I will be all over that cutie punch!

I also received some iron-on transfer embroidery patterns from Pattern Bee. One is a patterns for a redwork doll quilt. The other is 150 mini designs (all so vintage and cute!) which are slated to be part of doll clothing. There are many other patterns I'm coveting *cough*Raggedy*cough*Ann*cough* but I'm going to try to restrain myself at least a little bit. I emailed the owner to see if I could use the mini patterns on items I'm selling and she said yes! I am just over-the-moon thrilled about that. Remember the removable collar from the elf doll's dress? I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this ;)

And the beads for my sister's wedding necklace finally made it here. I ordered them from Art Beads. I was worried they wouldn't get here before the weekend. I need to get the necklace made and in the mail super fast. Everything is so pretty though...lots of sparkly Swarovski crystals.

And then! I got an ebay package. My daughter, Isabelle's, birthday was Wednesday. She's 11 now. And even though she's practically a teenager she still has a whole lot of imagination left. For her present we ordered this dollhouse. Well when I saw an auction for some vintage porcelain dollhouse dolls-one which is the spitting image of Annabelle from The Doll People (minus the green hair)- I *had* to get them! Here is "Annabelle" up close:



She's just perfect!! Isabelle is at Six Flags with a friend right now and I cannot wait for her to get home!

Oh, by the way, I had to order myself a dollhouse so I wouldn't get too bossy with Isabelle's. Before you laugh, I can tell you it has already proven to be a good thing (as Martha would say). Since she didn't have her dollhouse in time for her birthday I took her to Hobby Lobby to pick out a few things for inside. She picked bedroom furniture. But not the bedroom furniture *I* would have picked. I kept my mouth shut because I knew I'd just get that furniture for my own house. ;-) And I keep running across blogs of these Club Little House people. I'm completely enchanted!!

Now for the mail that went out today. There was a lot of that too!

A unicorn:



A bendy wizard and toadstool:



A lion (to whom I added a bit more mane under his chin after taking this picture):



And a pincushion with emery strawberry (which I couldn't help but scent "apricot vanilla"):



Also, the needlebook I made a couple days ago was mailed to its new home.

Today was just a busy, busy mail day!! Ah gotta love 'em!!