Another big snow storm

This is what it looked like yesterday when i went out on the front porch to get the paper.....
Another BIG snow storm... The roads were so bad, we didn't go and visit my Dad at the hospital. Being snowed in, i did get a few things done...

I finished and trimmed the hat and scarf set i made for my sister in law, Annie....

And finished the little baby guinea pig dolls i made for The Paper Sparrow ( 2 sold right away)

And i finally got to making that apple pie.... I had some apples i bought at the Farmer's Market. Well, Lola learned how to say "APPLE" and every time she would say that and point to the bowl of apples i would hand one to her and she would fire that thing like a baseball! (What an arm that girl has!) So before every single piece of fruit got bruised and pulverized, i made the pie...

It was nice having the extra heat from the oven in the kitchen, and it sure smelled good in here!

And the pie sure tastes good too!

Just before it started to get dark, the snow stopped

but being snowed in didn't bother some of us at all. Nothing bothers Bella....

Stocking the Shelves

Well, i managed to make three more dolls for The Paper Sparrow this week. A kitty and a puppy out of socks, and a glove dog too. They are all numbered, named, tagged and ready to go to the shop for Troy Night Out.

The new granny square baby blanket is ready to go too, along with some prints of my Mother's and my paintings. They have been selling well recently.

Here is a closer look at the new baby blanket...

This is a close up of the dog's face. His name is Bowser. He is the first sock dog made with my own design. The embroidery is coming along. Just like anything else i guess-the more you do it, the better you get at it. I'm hoping i can improve over time! Ok, time to get these goodies bagged up and off to the shop. I'll be there tonight helping Katie in any way i can. We're expecting a big crowd tonight! I wish you could come!

Works in Progress....

Well, after i finished all of the projects we had planned for my daughter's shop,The Paper Sparrow, i took a few days off from crafting. But in those few days i took a good look around and saw how many things i had started and then just sort of fizzled out on, or put aside for more important projects. So, it's time to get to work on some of my personal projects, like.... The loom dolls...embroidering the faces on the guinea pig dolls and stitching their ears on. And that new loom doll that looks like it wants to be a lamb...And there are always baby hats to finish and trim out with buttons or crocheted posies...

Then there is the wall piece i started for my granddaughter Lola, who loves the song: "Mary Wore Her Red Dress" by Raffi. And the sock and glove doll ideas i have as well as my beanbag patterns....

Not to mention the paintings that are already started on paper, as well as the ones i am formulating in my mind....Doesn't it seem that there are not enough hours in the day sometimes???

Getting Ready for the Big Day!

I'm spending the weekend getting things ready to go into my daughter Kate's shop

The Paper Sparrow

I just finished these crocheted flowers to adorn little jumpers sewn by my daughter to go into her shop

And I'm getting ready to tag this bale of turtles sunning themselves on the deck

Here is a closeup of one of the little girl turtles! They were made on a flower hand loom.

And this is Abbie Bunny. She is a little fuzzy lop rabbit i made on my hand loom. She is one of many little dolls made on the looms here. I hope she makes someone happy!

I'm very happy with her and i think she looks happy too!

The Workbasket

I keep this basket on my stand in the living room, as i do most of my needlework in the evening, after i finish my daily chores. My favorite thing to do is to finally turn off the lights in the kitchen, call an end to the days work, and sit with my husband and the dogs, and work on my current projects. There is always something to do. So many babies being born to my family and my daughter's friends, and so many of them have no one to make them baby blankets, hats and booties. This basket is full of baby hats made out of cotton, waiting for the finishing touches for my daughter's shop. I have a few orders for specific colors already! And when there is a lull in requests, there are always scarves to be made for the homeless, and baby hats for the newborns in the local birth centers.
My Grandmother Mary taught me how to knit and crochet. It is one of the many cherished gifts she gave to me. I love to do this simple craft. I find it soothing and almost meditative in practice. I carry a little bag with my yarn, hooks and looms wherever i go, as it is such
a portable art. For me it is a satisfying and simple pleasure in life.