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

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

Life has been a roller~coaster!

Yeah, yeah, I know, every one's life is, right?  The thing is, my simple little life didn't use to have big important problems like it does right now.  While there are some inconvenient things that have to be done right now, I know that in the long run everything will work out exactly as it is supposed to.  I try not to worry, and when I do, I turn it into a prayer, most usually ending with, "Thy will be done, Amen."

So, business is good at the Pro-Shop, when a person takes into account that the weather is changing and we're having some pretty fine fall weather, which in Missouri means we can have a sunny, mild day, and the next be windy, cold, and miserable.  I'm behind in my paperwork, but I will catch up tomorrow (day off, day off, day off) and all will be well.

And....I've been stitching and stuffing like a maniac, which I love.  One lady purchased 3 of my flying pigs to make a mobile (cool idea).  One lady bought three of the 4 Halloween Critters I had made.  Seriously, any sale is cool.  I love it when family and friends purchase from me, but there's a completely different thrill when someone out there that I don't know purchases something I've made with my hands.  They've found my shop on Etsy, they've liked my Critters enough to buy one or two, for me it's a very thankful experience.  And I won't lie, it makes me proud of myself, and that is a wonderful feeling.

I've been working on my "Winter Line" of Critters.  I'll give y'all a sneak peek, I haven't listed them yet.

White Elephant

Y'all know what a White Elephant party is, right?  What better gift to take to a White Elephant party than a White Elephant?  I thought it was a pretty cool idea, but when I tried to tell my girlfriend, Dammit Janet, about it, she'd never heard of a party like that...so, tell me, do you?  

White Giraffe

Flying Winter Pig

I did some decorative stitching on this Critter with my sewing machine, I really like it.  Any thoughts? 

Started a couple of Christmas Critters today.  Way too early to post anything like that.  I'm old school like that, I do not like to crowd the Holidays, they come fast enough as it is.  

No blog of mine (after such an absence) would be complete without a pic of my two favorite girls.  

Darlin' Danielle and Delightful Delilah (10 months)

Y'all, Play Nice!  xxoo

One bazillion tries later...

Yay!  Oh, my computer is going through some issues.  My sweetheart purchased for me a new tower as my Christmas present this year.  My computer is as important to me as his golf clubs are to him...if his golf clubs were broken, he'd get new ones.  No need for my "golf clubs" to be broken.

Anyway...I wanted to tell you about what happened at the tournament on Sunday.  54 golfers.  We usually set up 3 tables with about 30 folding chairs outside on the patio.  We set up the tables, only to find that all the folding chairs were gone!

Now here's a brief back story to catch you up.  Last summer I worked for a girl, I'll call her PW.  PW ran the pro-shop, but I worked it.  In November she decided she didn't want to run it anymore, that she was going to shut it down.  My sweetheart and I took over, which apparently pissed her off, she locked up all my goods and made us wait 2 hours before she unlocked it.  She has not spoken directly to me since.

Now, she is in charge of private parties in the upstairs dining room.  It has a full bar, a kitchen, and a dance floor.  Over the summer she has booked, being generous, 4 parties.  I stay downstairs, she is supposed to stay upstairs.  That's the agreement.

Back to the chairs...they're gone.  Only members and employees know the codes to get in the doors, and only employees have keys.  Either a member or an employee had to be responsible.  Honestly, her name never entered my mind, that all happened so long ago, and I'm doing so well, I don't give her a second thought anymore...but I called the greens keeper and asked him, he immediately named her...when the pres came back from getting folding chairs from his house (30 mins both ways, plus loading), he called PW and turns out she had rented them out, claiming that she didn't know anything about the tournaments.  There are and have been posters on the door, on all the bulletin boards, as well as a calendar on the bulletin board with the tournaments clearly marked.  Or maybe make a phone call to see if it's ok, or has that sort of thing happened before?  Could she be that devious?  My guess is yes.

Last week she left a bunch of 12 packs of Sierra Mist and Pepsi Max that were a year expired with a sign on them saying "Free."  I opened each and every one of them, each and every one of them spewed with a force and smelled like rotten eggs.

Another tournament today, 34 golfers, our folding chairs have not been returned, and her husband had the gall to come to the golf course today during the tournament, and to complain loudly about how long they were taking to finish the tournament.  He could be trying to cover, he could be oblivious.  My guess is oblivious.

I don't know what's going to happen, I have no control over that, but I hope I will be delighted at the outcome.

I haven't stitched a stitch in two days, but I've made a couple of awesome new critters last week...I'll post some pics when I have more time.

Play Nice!  xxoo