Name tags

Hi Friends,

Yesterday we spent the day finishing and shipping all the Christmas gifts and cards. Whew! All will be to their recipients before the 24th, so good job!

Here is one of the things we made... Yes, I said we.  He was roped into it, and I think he enjoyed it, too.

We stamped with a brown ink using our thumb prints, then drew on some reindeer horns. The noses are sticky "jewels" and eyes are sticky  wiggly eyes - Voila!

An out of focus (sorry) close up. I think the grandkids will love them. The eyes move, and so it could be a game to make them look as funny as possible.  If you do this - don't do like I did... write the recipients name on the back first! It'll be easier that way.

Sew I'm back to sewing - I have another gift project in mind, but it's not for a birthday or Christmas.  I'll show it when it's been received.

Hugs & Happy Christmas,
Terri

Folded Wreaths

Hello Friends,

I've been making little wreaths for the small packages we are sending for gifts this year. Here's the picture of one for each of my kids, their spices and their kids.

The big one on the right is made of 8 - 6" papers and the others are all 12 - 3" papers. I used Sandy's Space  as a starting point. While making all these I learned that you don't have to be that precise and that there is a pocket on the front and back for each of the tabs, so use one in front and one in back, and it'll turn out less bulky. The project is a bit exasperating... especially if you have a shaky hand. So beware. I used premade bows - had to go to 3 stores looking for them - so much stuff is already gone from the stores. Also, there is a gold or silver thread with which to hang them on the tree.

I used 12" square scrapbook paper in a color they liked, or representing something the recipient is interested in... one has musical notes, another basketballs, etc. I thought I'd make some for an ETSY shop, but there is too much of that afore mentioned exasperation.  Besides you can make your own.  I have every confidence in your abilities.

Next up, tags to id. the gifts. And then we wrap and ship.

Hope you are doing better with your Christmas preparations. The kitchen is scheduled to be done on Dec. 23, but I'm not holding my breath.

Hugs,
Terri

Couple of new blocks

Just a couple of new blocks to show.

First is another Penseive

 I'm liking this one better than the previous try. (See below) It's the background... more contrast, I guess. And the wand on the one below is too dark to be seen, I think. (The picture below is much lighter than the actual block.. this time the photo is better than reality.)

And this phoenix is gone already. They seem to fly from my house. I've used them on "Get Well" cards to quite a few of my peeps. Below is a photo of the copy I made of  the recent card. I used some of those glue on "jewels" as tears. (I started with water - no that wasn't going to leave any marks... then I tried glitter glue, but mine takes forever to dry... after scraping that off I figured out the jewels. All of this is trial and error, and you wouldn't believe how plentiful the error part. Who was it that said "98% perspiration and 2% inspiration"? The longer I live the more I know that to be true.

 I used 3 different orangy reds on this version of Fawkes, and I like the green background. Punches up that red, plus it's Christmassy. I'm working on another that I've modified a bit so the tail looks like it fits with the rest of the bird. We'll see how that goes.

Anyway, I hope this one works for my DD. She had a particularly painful week. Bless you!

Sew that's it for today... and do me a favor... hug your kids today. No matter how old they get, they are still your babies. No matter how naughty they may have been, or are, give them a hug today. I'd love to hug mine, but they all live so far away.  Hugs to you, my babies, and lots of love.

and Hugs to all of you,

Terri

Hi Again~

I'm a baaaaaad girl. I told you I'd be back the next day, and I wasn't.  I do have two blocks to show though....

Well, you know what they are, and where to find the patterns (if not, go to older posts). I'm off to work on a new Pensieve.

Hugs,

Terri

How to make the easy more difficult

Or The Terri Way

Hello Friends,

I'm working on a fairly easy pattern



~one half of the Deathly Hallows block done successfully~

of the Harry Potter blocks you can see on Fandom in Stitches, but I keep making mistakes! I set the fabric at wrong side to right... I get a fold over when I set it under the needle, (see below)

 or I use the wrong color... OMG. Last week I had to "unsew" four pieces on one patch of the Mimbulus Mimbilitonia. I guess there is just too much on my mind lately.  There is the Darling Daughter trouble... never leaves my mind for long. (Love you Honey!) There is the kitchen mess - while awake there is no way to look away... there is kitchen everywhere except in the kitchen! Then there is the regular stresses of the Christmas season - will they like their gift?  When can I get out to shop? Where is the money for it all?  I'm really amazed by the ladies who have kids and a job, too, that also make things and have all these same stresses.  How do we cope with all that?  ANSWER=Youth.  The great elixir... Where can I find a drop or two?

Couple of pictures of my closest granddogs. They were here for a couple of hours on Sunday. Their "Mommy" took us out for lunch.

This is Ivy and Max is in the next picture. (They are toy sized dogs that think they are lions.)

Well, I'm off to go "unsew" the mess I made last night. Just a few more pieces to this side, and the center seam, and I'll have the DH to show tomorrow.

Hugs,

Terri

Love from the UK!

Hi Friends,
Look what I got in today's mail~

How sweet of you, Melanie! I love the little elf - he has his own scarf. Look how wonderfully he is made. You did a great knitting job...  and he brought me Chocolate!

 He even brought a bar with my name on it!!!  I love it all. The card - Santa's village - is very dear. I love the candy, and the elf - I'm going to call him Mel - is beyond measure, thoughtful and absolutely cute! For those of you who do not know, Melanie is the Houseelf. She makes all kinds of things, bags, knit things, and quilts! Right now she's refinishing her floor... and with big dogs - greyhounds - in the house, too.  You are amazing, Melanie.  Thank you so much!  The package was a  big surprise, and a lovely one.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and a wonderful start to the Christmas season... I did!
Hugs,
Terri

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

It's a day to remember what we are particularly appreciative of... (Okay, I know that is the worst English Grammar there is, but you get what I mean, don't you?)  There is one thing I'm particularly thankful for, but it is quite a melancholy thing, so I won't divulge it. Suffice it to say, I'm particularly thankful for family.  But wait there is also a looooong list which, in part, includes sunshine, and You, my Blogger Friends.  I especially appreciate the ones who consistently leave a little sunshine/love by way of the comment section.  Thank you all - you know who you are... I Thank God for You!
So there still is no kitchen - just look back a few posts, and you will see how ripped up and unusable it is...still. That could be a good thing.  That's how I'm getting to eat out for Thanksgiving this year... That's right, no all day cook-a-thon for me.  The he and me will be at Denny's for dinner tonight.  (We are not the "goremet" type.)

Now that's enough old lady maudlin talk... (Did I tell you we've been a few days without sunshine, and I get pretty morose without it.)

I've a few new blocks from the  Harry Potter paper piecing site  finished and I want to share and show....

This is my version of the Goblet of Fire. I went to the book to find the description. I'd forgotten that it was wooden, (the movies confuse things) thus the wood grain fabric.  I did remembered the blue and white flames. I like how it turned out. I found just the right background, black and blue swirl, at High Sierra Quilt Store a few weeks ago.

Another Mimbulus Mimbulitonia.  The other one I used a white background, and, while I did like the outcome, I thought it might not "fit" with the rest of the blocks.  I do always like to have a few extra blocks to rearrange the final layout. (If you are just tuning in, there is my Pensieve, too.  I have it padded and ready for the project that I can't describe right now.  After Christmas....)

Did I show you the Slytherin Snake?  I'm not real happy about the mouth, I wish there had been a red eye... maybe I'll revise this one and make it again.

Finally, here's a sneak peek... I'm working on the second block in the There and back again BOM.

I really got myself into trouble with this wood grain fabric... particularly hard to get it to go across correctly. It'll keep me out of mischief, for sure. Another new experiment.

So that's what we are up to -  since we don't get to cook. Hope your holiday is happy and fun!

Hugs!

Terri