Breathe!

Wow, it's been awhile since I've had time to post. I spent the last few weeks getting ready for the craft show and trying to get as much done as possible. Last weekend was the show and I had a great time with my sisters. I didn't sell as much as I had hoped for, but I did make my table fee back as well as a few extra dollars. I also got a few special orders that will bring in a few more dollars.


Here's a picture of our table:

So this weekend I decided to take it easy. I did work on some of the special orders, but I'm really itching to start a new project for ME. I know I should be working on Christmas presents, but I feel like I've spent so much time working on this craft fair, I haven't had a chance to be creative for me.

Next Friday J and I will begin decorating for Christmas. Last year was not a Merry Christmas because my Mom passed away on Dec. 21st. I honestly don't even remember much of last Christmas. This year, in honor of my Mom, we are doing Christmas up right! My Mom loved Christmas and her house was always full of Christmasy stuff. My motto this year is "Go Big or Go Home" when it comes to Christmas. I will share pics of some of my decorations after we are done.

Until then....

always,

K

Fall & Winter Projects

Not a lot to say today, I'm kind of bummed that my vacation is over and I have to go back to work tomorrow, so I'll make this short and sweet!

I've been in the mood to craft for Halloween and Christmas this week, as you will see from my latest creations!

First up is not something I made this week or even this year. I made this Halloween plaque a few years ago but it's probably my favorite Halloween decoration:

Next is a Halloween flour sack towel I made:

I also made a cute little stuffed pumpkin:

Even thought this isn't specifically a Halloween decoration, it is fall-ish. I love this memory board I made by recovering an old corkboard with some pretty owl corduroy fabric:

While hanging out with my sister, I came up with the idea to make some fabric candy. These are time consuming, but so fun and so cute once done. I plan to fill up a huge candy jar I have with little fabric candies. If I get motivated, I may make different colored candies for different holidays, but don't count on it:

The second picture shows the candy displayed in a small candy dish I picked up at a thrift store for a dollar:

Lastly I made two Christmas decorations. Both snowman, both not as cute as they were in my head, but they will still hang on my tree this year:

Overall, I didn't get as much accomplished project-wise as I had hoped while I was on vacation, but I'm glad I got some little things done!

Have a great week!

always,

K

My Staycation

This week is the first real vacation I've had in two years. I've had time off here and there, but it always seemed to end up where I was committed to do one thing or another that made it not very vacation-y.

This year I was committed to making my vacation a real vacation. We had plans to go to the beach for part of the week and I made plans to spend at least one day with my sister. Then we checked the forcast. Rainy and cold at the beach. Why would we pay to stay at the beach in the rain? Well, we decided not to. We decided to have a stay-cation and stay at home and relax and do some things around here.

Jeff and I went out to dinner for the first time in forever on Monday. I forgot how much I love to go to dinner with my honey. We had a great time and great food and even ordered dessert, which we never do. The food coma afterwards was totally worth it!

On Tuesday, I convinced Jean to take the day off of work and we spent the day in Lancaster, PA. Can I just say WOW! Jean has been trying to get me to go to Lancaster for months now. It's only an hour and a half away...and we took the back roads so it was a gorgeous drive through farmlands.

We had two goals for Lancaster: Fabric and Doughnuts. If you think those two things don't go together, you don't know me at all...

Honestly, I think I spent every bit of money I would have spent on our vacation at the beach on fabric. Seriously. I bought almost 50 pieces of fabric. 50. I outdid myself. But the prices and selection were phenomenal. Did I mention we only went to 5 stores? There were at least 5 more we wanted to go to, but they close down the stores at 5pm there and we ran out of time.

Here are some pics of fabric I got:

These are my favorites:

I also bought lots of notions...and doughnuts. Did I mention the doughnuts? There is a grocery store there called Shady Maple Farm Market that is awesome. If I lived close to there and that was my grocery store, I'd spend $300 a week on groceries. (Right now, we go to the grocery store once a month and spend a max of $200).

Anyway, this place is HUGE. Think Sam's Club with only food. I got tired (and lost) just going from one end to the other. They have these doughnuts that are so good (and so cheap!) that I had to buy a dozen. I was going to freeze the extras as a weekend treat in the coming weeks. Jeff is not a sweets person...my total opposite in every way, this boy. I brought the doughnuts home and told him of my plan to freeze them. He wanted to try one after I raved about them. He ate 3. THAT in itself tells you how good these doughnuts are.

Okay, okay, I'll move on from the doughnuts now, I promise.

Since I haven't posted in awhile, I wanted to share some little things I've been working on. Nothing spectacular, but bits and pieces of stuff:

First is a cute, girly applique bib. Love this Robert Kaufman fabric.


Next is a new piece I started for a Christmas wallhanging using freezer paper applique.

Then some of my baby pin cushions displayed in a thrifted cabinet. Love this cabinet I got for $2.

This is a sample bookmark I made for our upcoming craft show. I thought these would be a quick sew...not so much. I'm using chipboard inside to keep them stiff and it's a pain to sew around once it's inserted.
And lastly, this is a prototype for some Christmas ornaments I'm making for the show. Jean says I need to make the yo-yo smaller or the heart bigger. I didn't think so until I saw this picture. You're right, Jean!

So that's it for now. I'm heading to Jean's house on Friday to play with some of my new material so hopefully I will have more to share on Saturday or Sunday.

always,
K

Wait for it....

Big update coming tomorrow or Thursday at the latest. Just spent the day in Lancaster, PA with my sister and bought a TON of fabric. Lots of ideas and projects swirling around in my head...now to DO them!

always,
K

Short on Time

I ran out of time to do my post today, but I did want to give a shout out to my sister for creating her first Quilted Cupcake pattern. It's up for sale in her Etsy shop for only $3.50.

I got a test copy of it and played with it a bit and this is what I came up with:

I will post more pics of what I was up to this weekend later in the week.

always,

K

Craft Show Prep

My sister's and I are going to be vendors at an upcoming craft show. I spent the weekend preparing for it, which is amazing if you know me, because the craft show is in November and I'm usually a last minute kinda girl.

First, I did some painting of thrifted things. I'm not sure if we will use some or all of these, but we plan on have a bright, fun table and filling things such as my colanders with our goodies.

I spent the majority of my time working on mini pincushions for the show that I love. (I even made a picture of them my new header for the blog!)

I also worked on a few more of my fabric apples, but only completed one. I sewed a bunch and have them in a small container so that I can turn, stuff and finish them while watching TV during the week. I've altered the pattern a little bit so it looks more apple-like to me.

I also worked on a new pattern for potholders. This is my first attempt and I kind of like how it turned out. To make it a little different, I quilted it in concentric squares instead of straight lines.

My sister's and I also recently joined our local quilting guild and attended our first meeting last Monday. They had a class on applique and I was blown away! Up til now I have only done raw edged applique finished with a blanket stitch. This class taught us the freezer paper method and I instantly fell in love with the technique. My practice pieces are a bit rough around the edges (no pun intended) but I'm getting better. I started a new piece today and hope to post it next time if I get it done.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

always,

K

Remember Those Who Lost Their Lives

I wrote this poem right after 9/11 and thought I would share it with everyone on the 8th anniversary of a tragic day in America:


Tonight I lit a candle, for the souls of those that died
I left the candle burning bright, to celebrate their lives.
We lost some treasured loved ones, their faces near and dear
We never had to know them to miss their presence here.

Tonight I lit a candle, for the souls of those we lost
To let them know we love them, are sorry they paid the cost.
We won’t forget your bravery, in the face of trying times
We vow to hold your memory close engraved upon our minds.

Tonight I lit a candle, for the souls of those we mourn
For it took your needless passing, for unity to form
Our nation vows its vengeance; your deaths were not in vain
Our flag still flies, our bells ring loud, freedom will still reign.

Tonight I lit a candle, for the souls for whom we pray,
Remembering your sacrifice with each and every day.
God Bless your souls and those of all the ones you left behind
And I pray that one day all will rest in any peace that they can find.

Tonight please light a candle, and add your prayers to mine
Let our silent blessings shout beyond the boundaries of this time.
Do not forget in months to come of how we feel today
Let September 11, 2001 become an Unsung Heroes day.

KAH 9-14-2001 (In memory of the many victims of the terrorist attack on the United States 9-11-2001)

May God Bless America

always,
K