"Marvelous Minis" by Country Quilts

Here are the ornaments I made last weekend.

All eight ornaments completed.

They had a fall-ish theme to them: cat, jack-o-lantern, glove, pineapple (???), sheep w/crow, pear w/crow, watermelon w/crow, and pig.

I used some really cute plaid fabric my mom gave me and cut 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles from it. There were only 7 different plaids, so for one I used tea-stained muslin.

I cut out each shape from plain old cheap felt based on the pattern, and used a little bit of basting glue to hold the different parts onto the fabric instead of pinning them (I hate pins). Then I hand stitched each piece using a running stitch in a matching color of DMC floss.

Once the design was stitched onto the fabric, I took the two pieces and with a running stitch around the edges, sealed 3 sides. I popped some stuffing in there (not too much, didn't want them to look TOO much like pillows), and closed it up.

So I'm pretty proud of these since I've never done anything like this before. I'm definitely going to do some for each season. I'm planning on putting them on my wreath I keep hung in the living room throughout the year. I haven't decorated it since last Christmas, so I think this is a cute way to keep it up-to-date. I'm planning on finding some Christmas ones (and maybe putting those on the tree!), and then make some (drawing out my own patterns instead of buying them!) for Valentines (hearts), St Patty's (shamrocks, pots of gold, and rainbows -- which would just be a cream colored arch with rainbow colored stitching, i'm thinking), Easter eggs, for summer I'll have up some red, white, and blue stars for all the many patriotic holidays that season.

That's it. I'm going to start on Art's dad's cake now (french vanilla!). I hope he likes it!

Quicky Update

So I'm updating because it's been a while since I "blogged".

I made my applique ornaments, and hopefully this weekend I'll have time to upload the pictures (it's so hard on our slow internet connection!).

Art was out of town for a week and a half, so I got busy with other things like cleaning and whatnot. Since he's been back I've been super busy at work so things have just been a mess.

After this weekend, things will be blogging back to normal with pictures of my craft project from last weekend (ornaments), Art's dad's birthday cake which I will be making this weekend, and the birthday card I will be making him as well.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

p.s. only 100 days until the wedding!

Eventually pictures, but now, more "blah"

Art left for Santa Clara for 9 days yesterday morning. I was fine until evening came around... about the time I normally make dinner. But then we talked on the phone and everything was cool.

This weekend I will be making some little applique ornaments (fall-themed) with mom (who is crafting with me all weekend), I'll be sure to take pics and put them up on here. I also found a cool beach bag idea in my new Martha Stewart Living magazine. If I make that, I'll put it in here (or save it for another post).

I've decided to do a lot of crafting for the holidays because I know money will be tight after the wedding. We decided on a budget for each other for presents, and I know what I'm going to be making for people. I won't write it in here because someone might be reading :D:D:D

I'm also going to work some more on my large Christmas-scene cross stitch project this week. I did a little bit last night, but my eyes were getting tired because there wasn't enough light. I think I'm going to bring a small lamp to the side table in the living room so I have enough light to stay motivated to work on it this week.

That's all. I'm at my boss' desk this week because she's on vacation, and although I have a little pile of work to be done, I get super bored because it's so quiet in here!!!!