Waylon Wednesday

My Young Son has a dog named Waylon.  He is a good dog, and they are very bonded.  Waylon's been throwing up intermittently the last couple weeks.  We took him to the vet today, he'll be fine.  He's got an infection in his stomach lining.  He's on antibiotics and  a very bland diet.   I haven't gotten a phone call, so far as I can tell he hasn't thrown up again.

I have some new supplies coming tomorrow, and I brought groceries home with me today, so I am hoping that I can stay home for the next few days.  I'm going to have company next week, so I want to be ready for whatever may come up!  

 

 

This is a dragon I made for my grandson.

It's black felt, with a black textured felt on the belly and wings.

A light gray used for contrast around eyes and under wings.  

(my next one will be made out of pleather)

Thursday

My granddog, Waylon, kept his food and meds down last night, and has had breakfast and meds this morning.  So far so good.  This has been emotionally and physically taxing on my son, because Waylon is everything to him.  I think that whatever was bothering him exited his body yesterday, and he will continue to get well.  Soon he'll be our same old Waylon.  

Trees are calling to me this week.  I gotta do some research.  It feels like a sign, and I do not want to miss out on this one. 

Preliminary finding - of course I did the Google - Trees are symbols of strength, individuality and expression, calmness, growth and the interconnectedness of everything.

Uncanny, because this mirrors the thoughts in my brain, my feelings, and what I am studying.  I know some trees by sight, but I don't think many.  That was my first sniggle of a thought, "I should get a book and learn how to tell the diff. trees."  

Then one of my cyber friends did a tarot reading, and the deck she used was "Trees."  

Today, another cyber friend posted this:  

I feel that I am being dm'd by the spirit of the trees, and they have something I need to know.  

Luckily I am surrounded by trees where I live, I'm kinda in the country, not rural, but there are more trees than buildings around here.   I'm not a farm girl, I tried to be a city girl way back when, but where I am right now is where I belong.  

So, that's probably enough for today, I have an order of faux suede sheets coming today.  Not sheets like on the bed, sheets of 9" x 12" for creating my Critters.  I'll probably start with a Kitty, since it's an easy and super cute pattern.  Stay tuned, I'll probably have something to show you in the next couple of days.  

Squee!  

Play Nice!  xxoo

I love Snapchat!

Handmade by Cosmo

Facebook

Instagram

P.S.  I do not know how to remove the highlighting and such where it is, I tried but now it's time to do morning chores, so, hey, if you are reading this, please leave a comment.  

Well, Shoot

 Payday is not until next week.  I don't know why I have such a hard time remembering!  I thought it was the 3rd week of the month, but today the interwebs tell me it is the 4th week.  Now, I can plan accordingly.  I hope.

Darlin' Danielle sent me some moola, and I'll be fine.  I'd be fine if I hadn't had to pay the deposit for the moving company.  He's sitting over there with more than money than he can see over, and I'm begging cash from my kid.  

I'd much rather be here.  My kid doesn't mind.  

Got a couple loads of laundry going, in the dryer now.  Stoopid Laundry room, only 2 out of 4 washers are working, and only 2 out of 4 dryers are any good.  Plus we gotta pay!  

In a senior community where our rent is federally assisted, already on an obviously fixed and scant income...they charge us a dollar per load.  

Since I am not going anywhere else today, I am going to tackle my felt scraps.  I have ideas for every single one of them!  

Play Nice!  xxoo

Good Boy Greg.

He's getting bigger and is just a delight.  

Meow

Happy Happy New Year!

 I started my new year in my very own place of my own, got the keys mid November, moved in by December 1st.  

My place became a home the night that Greg, aka Good Boy Greg, moved in.  

He's a good kitty.  I love him.  We had a moment this morning, though.  For the 3rd time he knocked over a jar of water with long stem lillies in it.  I almost got angry but then I thought to myself, "who's the dummy here, the cat doing what cats do, or the dumb human that has already cleaned this mess up twice, expecting it not to happen again?"  

Ok,then...moving forward...

Living alone for the first time in forever is really suiting me.  Making me stronger in many ways, like doing things for myself instead of waiting for someone else to do them was a bad habit I let myself get into.  I'm getting my independence back.  But no worries, if I need help with something I am not afraid to ask.

My furnishings are sparse, just a couple things hanging on the walls, the floors are bare, and most of the furniture was free or usually less than $10.

And I am happier than I have been in a really long time. . 

I'm not just sitting around eating bon bons, though.  My hands have been happy, too!

Cosmo's Kittys

There are some holiday ones, I especially love the Anti-Valentine Kitty.

A couple of Terriers, I call these two Pinky and Gramps.

This is a smaller version, not completely finished, no name yet.

I've been doing some woodburning, too, trying some new techniques, and happy with the outcome so far.  I have a couple pieces to finish, waiting to finish one piece before I get the sealer out.  

These are cigar boxes, they'll be ready to go soon.

That should pretty much catch us up, and hopefully I'll be more better at blogging on a regular basis...that's a novel idea.  

If you have any interest in any of my goods, please send me a message on FB or Insta, or here, of course.  I'm HandmadebyCosmo (I am pretty sure) on those forums.  

I'm always open to a custom order, or to a question, even a suggestion if you have one.  

Play Nice!  xxoo

My new friend, Maria, and other stuff

I don't know what I was so worried about, bringing this new dog into my life, because I love her!  She is beautiful and loving and gentle and is so smart!  The 2 older dogs here don't know what to think of her, but they'll adjust, after a rocky morning, we're having a peaceful evening.

Be looking for some new Critters in my shop, probably by the end of the week.  I have quite a few that are in the "finishing up" stage.

Quite at home.  

Here are a couple of sneak peeks, unedited photos for my etsy shop.  

This lazy pony is made out of muslin instead of felt.

All natural colors, I love the look. 

This squirrel was done in an embossed felt, 

with coordinating belly and forehead.  

This squirrel, done in muslin.  I really love this pattern.  

Wanna see another one?  

You sure?  

Ok

The very elusive, rarely seen...Zebra Squirrel.

Known for it's red nose, and glittery forehead and belly.

Quite a catch.

So, now that you've been updated on what's been going on around here, I have to go find a good harness pattern on Pinterest for my new canine.  

Play Nice!  xxoo

A planned day vs. reality. Reality won.

I am happy to have a day off, slept in a little bit, had a shower and put on clean jammies.  I was already thinking what I was going to make today, but I wanted to try out my new photo box that DD got me for my birthday...got that set up, battery dead in the camera.

Alright, I am not at work, it is a beautiful day here.  We had a storm this morning that was nice to listen to.  My battery will be charged in a minute, I'll just go cut out a pig or something.  Went into my sewing room to do just that, but I had gotten a couple of props out for the photo shoot...I've been thinking about putting a little something with my Critters, but wasn't finding what I was looking for.  The thought popped in my head that I, myself, do actually own a good amount of what we call "Little Guys"  Like for example, a little hand carved Giraffe...anyway, these are stored away in a dresser, different drawers, There area absolutely no clothes in that dresser, it is full of a bunch of stuff I've gathered over the years.

An hour later, I have a basket of Little Guys, but no felt has been cut as of yet.

I'll go try now.  Wish me luck!

3:12, back from the grocery store.  Better to go get the supplies for the Pro Shop today instead of in the morning.  Had to change into real clothes, put on a bra...but I made it.  Got my jammies back on, having a cold beverage...gotta check and make sure I haven't missed anything on facebook, right?

I re-listed a bunch of Critters yesterday, Getting ready to do some more, battery is charged, but my get up and get at it is a little in need of a rest for a few.

A thought entered my head, re which Critter to make.  I have the felt in front of me, and the pattern.  All I needs is a little Netflix in the background.

Show you what I came up with next time, until then, go take a look at the other Critters, yeah?

Play Nice!  xxoo

The Beginning of The End, and the Beginning of a New Beginning.

I have been truly  blessed to have spent the last 365+ days with my Darling Danielle and Delightful Delilah. Being able to spend this year as a Mother (for the last time) and Grandma (for the first time) has been an experience I wouldn't trade for anything.  Every day spent with them, it felt that my mother was there with us, too.

My son-in-law, Benjamin, Danielle's husband, Delilah's daddy, will be home on Thursday.  The next few weeks are a whirlwind of movers and bachelor/bachelorette parties, a wedding, and then the three of them leave on the 15th of March.  To Germany.  I can't drive to Germany.

There are other things going on in my life, of course.  I've been stitching and stuffing, and thinking and pondering, the two kinda go stitch by stitch.  My Young Son is taking a trip, my sweetheart and I have to make a trip to the airport and find a wedding somewhere downtown, in the dark...The Pro-Shop is making progress, thanks to some dedicated members...but, still...

To be completely truthful,  I can't quite pinpoint how I feel.  I'm ready for them to start their next chapter, far, far away, and I know I'm gonna miss them like crazy.  There's another aspect, too.  Since Sweetheart and I have been together, we've had 2 kids.  Now, one is going far, far away, and one is clinging to the nest with all his might.  Sweetheart is a bachelor.  He has never been married, no kids of his own.  We live in the house that his parents had built in 1973.  I want to broaden his horizons...I want to decide on a Sunday night that we are leaving to go see the Grand Canyon on Tuesday.  I want to be free to go have some fun!  I'm still 18 in my head, even though my body disagrees.

Thanks for reading my rambling post...trying to get all the thoughts in my head in one place is not an easy feat.  Trust me, there's more.

Delilah's Converse

My friend, Dammit Janet,

a polka dot horse

and a muslin pig. 

With Wings.

Y'all, Play Nice!  xxoo

Trying Something...

The other day an idea popped into my head, like they do now and then.  I've been making my Critters out of felt, my idea was to create a line of Critters made from Muslin Fabric.  I love the natural look of Muslin.  I still wanted to hand-stitch them, too.

I had the idea on a Tuesday, had to work my 2nd job on Wednesday, and finish a sold felt Critter on Thursday, then spent the evening with D, so I didn't get to start on this idea until Friday evening.  I traced out the pattern pieces, and began cutting them out.

As I starteed cutting, I thought, "these should have some seam allowance."  I don't use those on the felt, but soon figured out that they would be needed with the thinner material.

The front...you can see where the seam burst there on the front leg...need that seam allowance.

See how the back leg is shorter?  Seam allowance would fix this, I think, and this wing I didn't stuff, 

wanted to see how "natural" would look...I wasn't happy with this flatness, same goes for the ears.

Back end look, poor little gimpy thing.

Here is the "good" side.  This side I cut out with a bit of allowance for the seam, 

and stuffed the wing a little bit.  

I was glad to have tried this, and really learned a lot.  I'll use batting in the ears and wings next time, for a less "stuffed" look.  The seam allowance is really so important.  

So, what do you think of the stitching on the outside look of this?  What do you think of the monochromatic look?  I'm curious to see how it would look with a contrasting thread color.  

For now, I'm going to cut out another one, with a small seam allowance on all the pieces, I may do some colorful stitches on this one, just to see how it looks.  

Part of the creative process is in the feedback, so if you have any suggestions, please feel free to share!  

xxoo

Cindy

Yes, Yes, I know.

It has been awhile.  My summer has been jam packed full of fun, adventure, some sadness, of course, there's always that to balance things out.

Having my girls here with me has been the absolutely perfect thing for me at the perfect time.  I have developed a strong bond with my g-daughter, and strengthened the bond that my daughter and I have.  She's an awesome mother, and I've learned so much from her.  I'm sure all the grandmothers out there will know exactly what I mean when all I can do is sigh.

My job at the Pro Shop has been awesome.  I've hosted a few tournaments, I've scored a bit of business for the club on my own, I have a card reader there now...finally I can take plastic instead of cash only.

The girls and I have done a bit of traveling over the summer, in Missouri, we haven't left the state.  We've been to Hermitage to a little family thing, we've been to Osceola for a funeral, we've been to Sturgeon for the 4th of July.  We've gone to the zoo, taken many shopping trips, and a couple of trips to a couple of emergency rooms, but all is well now.

My Young Son is out in the world.  I pray for him every day.

I've been working on some new/old Critters.  Here are a few I haven't listed yet...

Toying with names..."Comic Canine"  

Not sure I care for the circle under the eye, and you can't see it but it has the wrong tail on it...

Floral ???  Flora... I kinda like Flora.

This one is going to be Dream Something I think...

(oh look, someone needs ears *gs*)

If you have any ideas for names, please feel free to share.  

My Son-In-Law is home for a month on leave.  It was almost as if he hadn't been gone, thanks to modern technology, they were able to see each other every day.  It is good to have him here.  

So, I don't want to drag this out...can't catch it all up in one post, right?  

Play Nice!  xxoo

Doing what you like...

Critter wise, I have been lucky to have a few orders, and discovered a new (to me) marketing trick, working on this has been exciting.

Out of all my patterns, I am enjoying making the new horse.  I haven't sold any of them, yet, but I just ordered some real wool felt to put together a few Magical Rainbow Unicorns in the new pattern.  Because making these horses is what I like to do right now.

Palimino Pal

Little Joe

Pegasus

And now some random thoughts:

So, the "ladies" at the golf course planted some flowers last Spring, the Hibiscus I brought inside after the first frost, and it flourished.  I just put it back outside yesterday.  There is some kind of ferny plant in the same pot, and when I went to pull it out the door a prickle from the ferny plant got me.  Now where it got me is itching, and I remember the last time I got one of those prickles in the palm of my hand, it took forever to heal...and until I figured it out, I thought I was going to get a whole buncha moola coming my way, the way my palm was itching!

Two golfers that I am friends with are "at odds" with each other over a card game.  A .25 cent card game.  This makes me very uncomfortable, but it is not up to me to fix it.  They've been friends for years.  A person would think that two grown men could either talk it out or get over it, or duke it out.  I wish they'd do one of those things, just get back to normal (whatever that is)!

I have a date with my sweetheart tonight.  And a couple more hours here before,  Love my job. Really I do.

Later that same day.  

We (Sweetheart & I) went out to dinner, and our food was tasty.  He's watching some basketball game, I am waiting for a load of laundry to dry...such is the life of the goddess that is me, and I like doing what I do.

Play Nice!

xxoo

New Normal

My new normal...We have coffee with the girls in the mornings now.  We have dinner with the girls at the end of the day.  And one little girl is becoming very smitten with her Grandpa.

This is Otis, Delilah's Dog 

me (in the sweater), 

and Delightful Delilah (in the giraffe print) 

  

We've gotten more snow in the last month or so than we have in the last 2 years.  After the drought last year, it's got to be a blessing...and a good soaking rain to wash all this white stuff away would also be a blessing.  (so tired of snow.)  The weather for the rest of this week looks promising.  

I've been stitching and stuffing up a storm the last couple of weeks, finally starting to feel like myself after the February Flu kicked my you know what...and took some pics.

The first 3 were for a custom order, the bottom 2 are available in my shop.

This one is going to a Baby Shower

Easter Sunday afternoon, Delilah and I were peeking out the window, and I was whispering silly things in her ear, like, "I'd like to see a squirrel ride a bike past here," and she would laugh quietly, and sometimes she'd just turn and look at me with such a happy, joyful look, my heart melts.  I am so blessed to have my girls here.

Play Nice!  

xxoo

A new week!

My weeks start on Tuesday, I work Tuesday - Sunday in the summer, I have Monday & Wednesday off this time of year, as well as being able to stay home when we have "weather."  Tuesday and Thursday are "Men's Day" so I always work them, year 'round...rain or shine...snow is questionable, it depends on how much.

With that being said, Today is a new week, and I had a glorious weekend.  Saturday I got home about 3, and finished many Critters.  Sunday was a no go-to-work day, and I finished more Critters, took photos and actually listed 6 new ones in my shop.  If you haven't seen them yet, or read about them, you can click here, go ahead, I'll wait... *gs*

The high temp in H'ville is supposed to be 32 degrees.  No golfers, we still have a couple inches of snow on the ground.  I have a table of card players settling in for a game of Pitch, I think I'm going to have a bowl of beans.  I have 2 pieces of lovely yellow and gray felt, with a floral design, and I just can't quite decide which Critter it is supposed to be.

Later:  I've fed just about everyone here, dishes are done except for coffee cups...

I had such a great thing happen today!  I have 2 beer salesman.  One comes on Tuesday, one comes (or is supposed to) on Friday.  I like my Tuesday one, the other, well...

Anyway, today is Tuesday, Salesman came in...now he's been in every week since March, and he's seen me working on my Critters, and I've told him about them...so he's telling me about this friend of his that is making lamps out of liquor bottles, Salesman tells him about me selling my Critters, I showed Salesman my Valentine  Critters in my Etsy shop...he bought one, and wants some brochures of mine to put in his wife's day care!  What?

Wheee!

Play Nice!
xxoo

Snowy Sunday!

I woke up nervous yesterday.  Made a stop at a grocery store before I went to work, started a new pot of beans, and waited.  One boy showed up a bit later, then another, then a couple more...enough for a couple games of Pitch, they had lunch, then they all headed home...as I was leaving, around 3:00, it had just started snowing...by 5 o'clock we had 2 inches of fluffy snow all over everything.

I finished a whole buncha my unfinished Critters last night, and have many photos to take and descriptions to write, so here's what I'm gonna do today.  I got up at my regular time, had a shower, but I'm staying here unless I get a phone call (begging for me to come in to feed them) because....there is snow on the ground, and because I went in last Sunday and spent the whole day there while they played cards and drank free coffee, not one single one of them spent a nickle.  I like all those guys, don't get me wrong, but I'd much rather be home on a cold, snowy Sunday.

A little later...I've given Sweetheart a haircut, got some laundry going, and some photos taken...finishing touches on the Valentine Critters, and I'll be posting!

Later:  Not one single phone call from any of the guys today.  You know, there is football on all day, there is snow on the ground, I believe I made a good call by staying home today, and they did, too.  I did call one boy to tell him I thought we'd all stay home today, he lives the farthest away...

Later:  Ok, my pics are foto-fuzed and ready to be posted...*squeal*

Later:  Just posted a few new Critters, you should go see.  Even though I put them on my FB page and tweeted, just in case you missed all that, clickety here.

Gosh it has been nice to be home today...especially since it wasn't planned.  I've been listening to some "Fibber McGee and Molly" on my old radio show podcast, but now I think I'll kick back and do a little stitching.

Later:  Just had a big bowl of soup for dinner.  Sat at the table with my sweetheart, and talked to him the entire time.  He was nice to look away from the football game now and then, and to grunt in my general direction.  Ha!

I guess watching the Oscars is a big deal tonight...not for me.  The last movie I went to see was in 2011, something about the Muppets, with Darling Danielle and Ben while I was in Clovis as we waited for Delilah, and I really don't keep up with celebrities so much, so I think I'll find something on Netflix or YouTube to occupy my ears this evening.

Horatio Heartthrob

Lanny the Love Bunny

Hamster Romanster

Thanks for coming by, just another day in the life of me, y'know...from my point of view, it has been peaceful, easy going, and productive.  Everyone here seems happy and content, for the most part.  

Don't forget to say your prayers.

Play Nice!

xxoo

 

Foggy Day

If only I could feel free enough to just let my thoughts and fingers fly.  I had a chance tonight, but I held back.  Probably for the best, actually.

I stitched and stuffed a Valentine Hamster today, it is waiting for eyes, ears, nose and tag.  I started stitching a pig, and started stuffing a hound dog.  I have too much unfinished business.  I did finish the Ritzy Valentine Dog last night, and worked on the Hairy Dog.

As always, there is so much swirling around life in general...I'm thankful for the hard parts, I realize they have to be gone through.  A new adventure every day, right?

This may very well be the most boring blog I have ever written, in my humble opinion, anyway.

Oh wait, dinner tonight was Jimmy Johns.  I had a tuna, with onions.  It was delish.

Play Nice!
xxoo

Un-Puny

Feeling much better today...you know, sometimes I think I just need to take a couple of days to just be.  Hang out in bed, nap a bit here and there...and not work on anything.

Unfortunately, the view from my bed was pretty bad.  I have a roll top desk, and it is a mess of paperwork, felt, thread, newspaper clippings, etc.  The top of it is covered with finished Critters, and Works in Process.  Tonight when I get home, that is my project.  It won't take long, of course, it's just a matter of putting things where they belong.

Next stop will be my sewing room.  I have got to come up with a good storage system for my felt, and scraps of felt.  And buttons, and shipping/packaging supplies, yarn, etc.

...and I have pics to take and descriptions to write and listings to list, and a ding dang fish tank to clean...and...my daughter and family will be here in about 3 weeks!

All those "ands!"  Seems pretty clear to me that I've been lacking in my ability to put things away.  At Christmas I was legitimately busy with custom orders (thank goodness), but now...well, I have no excuse.

So, when you think of me this evening, you can envision me walking back and forth across the hall from my bedroom to my sewing room, or standing at my work table sorting felt, or draining the fish tank so I can give it a good scrubbing...those are my goals for this weekend, and I will accomplish them all.

But...while I'm at work, I will proceed to stitch up a Valentine Critter.  :)

Play Nice
xxoo

Are you ready for Christmas?

We didn't put up a tree this year.  I decorated the Pro-Shop more than here, and I did that by hanging one ornament and one string of green tinsel.  It does look awesome, didn't think to take a picture of it...I will before I take it down on Wednesday.

Darlin' Danielle and Delightful Delilah (and Ben, of course) were here the beginning of December for D's 1st birthday party!  We had a house full, and everyone had a good time...

My mind has mainly been on my Critters these last few weeks.  I've made I think 5 purple unicorns, 3 pink unicorns, a set of The Three Little Pigs (with the Big Bad Wolf), The Three Bears and Goldilocks (Goldilocks is pretty bizarre looking, but the set was for a little boy, so the doll isn't that important.)  A kitten, a lizard, a few flying pigs, a purple giraffe...and there may be a few more in the mix that I don't remember right off the top of my head...my hands have been busy!

I've been experimenting with some merino wool, and I really, really like it.  I have a whole lot of craft store felt to use up before I can go that way exclusively.

I've added a few Critters to my line.  One I am really excited about is the Little Dog Critter.  I have a few of them stitched up, each and every one of them turns out just a little bit differently.  The Ritzy Dog is new, I'm loving that one, too.

I've been using yarn and crochet thread as manes and tails for some of them.  I really like the haphazard look of it.  I have to admit, though, I'm nervous about cutting it too short, 'cos y'know, it can't be un-cut.

I'll wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  I have high hopes for the future, starting right now!

Play Nice!
xxoo