Sunday, December 06, 2009

Tree Hunting

tree farmStar on top decoratedWe headed out to the tree farm today. I think this was the fastest we've ever picked one out. We walked up to the very first tree we saw and all agreed. Even the farm worker was a bit surprised and commented how fast we were.

The last photo is out of focus. My camera doesn't auto-focus consistently (one too many drops). That is an example of my manual focus talent. It appears I'm in need of some stronger glasses. Bugger.

For those who got a Christmas card from us last year - I am sorry but we're not doing anything as fun or creative. We went to Meijer and picked a pre-packaged boxed card this year. I like them and hope you do too.

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Lazy Morning

lazy.morning

Sunday, November 29, 2009

stuff

  • Best quote from last year's Christmas season:
    Mommy, I want you to get me a special surprise for Christmas. Something I don't know about and something I'll like...and I'm not talking about those special kind of surprises like a hug or telling me you love me.
  •  This year she wants a new paints, new books and a doctor's kit. 
puppy Jeff Vader
  • Jeff Vader (the dog) is doing well with obedience training. He's a funny dog. I've never seen a large dog jump like a toy poodle straight up in the air when excited until I met him. It's crazy. I need to get video of it.
  • Will my house ever be clean all at the same time?
  • I haven't started my Christmas shopping yet. Last year I was almost done at this time. I haven't done our Christmas card either and it's stressing me out. How do I top last year? I can't. What to do...what to do...
  • Next weekend we will get our tree. I have a goal to have the house clean and orderly by then. Why the house needs to be clean for the tree I don't know. It's one of my rules I made up in my head. 
  • I want to post more to this blog. Wanting to and actual doing can be two very different things. This randomized post is a start I suppose.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

We're hanging out watching Mythbusters on this fine Thanksgiving morning. Nothing like a lazy PJ day with the family. I'm not complicated.

This year I've learned to appreciate the basics. There is so much to be thankful for. God has given me a great life.

Hope you have a great day. Eat lots and lots! I plan to.

If you are interested I have reduced the price of my dolls as a special for the holidays.

gobble gobble

Thursday, November 19, 2009

2010 Fabric Calendar

2010 Calendar

Vote for my design! Please?? I entered a design in Spoonflower's Calendar challenge. Mine is a modern twist on the traditional fabric tea-towels. Go here to vote.

I think it printed up really nice - the colors are crisp and vivid. Great job again Spoonflower!

oval - seasons

Since I had the basic design I figured I'd make a basic repeat out of it. I ordered a test swatch. I'm looking forward to seeing how this one turns out."

The contest was to create a calendar to be displayed as a fabric wall hanging similar to traditional tea-towels. I wanted one that was more modern than typical tea-towel calendars so...that's what I designed. I think this would make a great gift, not that I'm biased or anything but I really do. The price is right at about $12. It is designed to fit a Fat quarter exactly so choose that option when ordering. You may need to sew a seam at the top depending upon how you would want to display it.

You can purchase it here.

edited: It's not quite ready to be purchased but it will be soon. EDIT #2 - It's now available. So, if you want a calendar for Christmas they're available.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Hand Stitched Embroidery Swap Finished

fish hoop swap

I'm late for the official deadline on this swap. Jeff Vader ate the first hoop.

This is my fish fabric design which you can buy here.

Monday, November 02, 2009

Hanging Out

cozy

Jeff Vader is settling in.

I've been sick with a cold for over a week. So annoying. It would be better to be sick sick and get it over with. I'm only getting the bare minimum done around here.

Tootie, however, is stepping up and being so helpful and grown-up. She's absolutely amazing and I can't believe I get the privilege of being her Mama.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Happy Halloween!

halloween2009

Thinking Arby's and a cat.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Fishy Fish Fish

I've been busy creating fish fabric for the Spoonflower weekly challenge. Please watch on their blog for when it's time to vote for my fabric and vote for me! Pretty please?

repeat pattern circlesfishyfishfish
water  background

I ordered test swatches and once I proof them and make some tweaks then I'll have them up for sale.

Monday, October 12, 2009

New Dog, Big Dog. Jeff

outside clyde
Here he is, our newest member of the family. Tootie calls him New Dog or Big Dog. I wanted to name him Jeff Vader -- taken from this Eddie Izzard bit.

He looks like a Jeff Vader. He's very deer-like and fine featured and not at all ferocious. He is large, however, and it appears he is going to get much larger. Jeff is 11 months old now and is eye-level with the kitchen counter. He's built like a freight train -- his body seems to go on forever and there is a lack of communication between what his hind end is doing with the rest of his body.

He was terrified of the stairs at first so the past couple days we've been practicing very slowly, one paw at a time how to navigate them properly. His biggest problem was getting his hind end in control. He kept wanting to kick. As of today he is doing them solo but he still goes realllllly slow, as we showed him, one step at a time.

So now when I mention Jeff Vader (not really his name in RL) you'll know who I'm talking about.

clyde.11months

The Winners Are...

If your name (from the comments in the previous post) is listed below you won a pin!
  1. Digital Misfit 
  2. Wendy 
  3. Regina 
  4. Janice 
  5. Jelabrilo
  6. Mary
Please email me with your mailing info. so I can send you your pin. My email is joybucket @ gmail . com (remove spaces).
Thanks all who played along with me!

Monday, October 05, 2009

Giveaway Goodies

fabric doll pins
I promised a giveaway so here it is...
I made some little kokeshi doll pins out of my fabric, see them above. I'm giving away 6 of them. If you would like to be in a drawing to win one of these little girls then write a comment on this post. If you write about this giveaway on your blog and link back to me and include the link so I can follow it in the comment I will enter your name twice. I'm doing it the old fashioned way with little bits of paper and a hat. I'll have Tootie draw out the winning 6 names. So, you got it? Leave a comment below and I'll enter you once. Include a link to a post (either blog or message board) inviting others to check it out I'll enter your name a second time. Happy days! I'm off to watch the movie Always with my hunky husband. OH, I almost forgot. The deadline for entering will be Midnight Sunday the 11th. I will draw names and announce the winners on Monday, Oct 12th.

Friday, October 02, 2009

Three Dolls

NoraI have 3 new dolls available in my Etsy shop. The first one above is Nora and she is my favorite. I like everything about her; how she sits, how her arms flop at the sides, how her head is tilted. So cute, if I do say so myself. :D
Tallulah Jean sitting This is Tallulah-Jean who I imagine her to be one that is Tomboyish, climbing trees and skipping stones in foo foo dresses. Her legs from the knees down are sculpted out of paperclay and she can stand up on her own without support. SOLD
katrina.full Finally, is Katrina. She's my only doll that has a sculpted torso. Both her arms and legs are jointed with buttons.
Please go take a look at the shop. Click on the links above to see more photos of each doll. I also updated my Shop Policies page which you may get a kick out of or think I'm totally bizarre. What can I say? I'm self entertaining.
I have more goodies in the coming days to post in my shop--small things, not sculpted dolls. Yet. It'll take me some time to finish more of those. I also have a blog give-away planned. Stay tuned...

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Paperclay doll in process

WIP taking a rest Huge feet are weighing her down. WIP don't jump Don't jump.

Monday, September 07, 2009

Little Bird Awakes - DQS7

DQS07.detail4

I'm pretty much finished with my Doll Quilt Swap 07 (DQS7) quiltie. All that is left is to bind it up and mail it off. I've titled this quilt "Little Bird Awakes: She Sang So Strong Her Little Reality Tore In Two" which is a mighty big name for a small 19"x 19" quilt.

I started with wanting to do lots of circles. I've had circles on the brain for awhile now. I just began making circles figuring the theme would come to me as I worked. As I laid them out I liked the rhythm they made juxtaposed to each other. I thought, "hey that looks like what it would look like if one could see words all piled up." Who's words? I wanted something small and cute - a little chirpy bird. Some of the tiniest birds can make big noises - especially at the crack of dawn on the one day I get to sleep in.

Here's the story I came up with: A cute little spunk of a chirpy bird has finally awakened from being asleep all winter. It appears as if she is in a perfect bubble. Now that she is awake her eyes are open to all that is going on around her. She is overwhelmed and does the one thing, the only thing she knows how to do. She begins to sing. It's tentative and quiet at first. As she goes she begins to gain more and more confidence and pretty soon she singing her heart out. All that singing piles up and begins to pull at the fabric of her world. The fibers that knit her world together begin to fray due to the weight of the music. Eventually, the tension is too much and her present reality is torn in two. Behind it a new one is revealed. Now her song can fall into it as well.

DQS07 Detail

That's what it's about -- one tiny bird with a big mouth. I hope my swap partner likes it.

During the making process I got to the point where I knew I wanted to cut the quilt in half so I could add that inner peace piece. I had a really hard time doing it. I had to give myself a little pep talk before running my blade down through. I whispered, "You've gotta do it. Come on, do it already. Chicken. Hear that? balk balk balk."

As you can see I did it and now it's done. I was hoping that by doing the DQS7 it would jumpstart me into my creative world again. That it has. I'm glad I did it. What's next?

DQS07.detail6