Around and About

This year I am decorating my tree with cats...because the cat's say so.



First ice of the season, hoping my fishes found some warm leaves to hibernate in.



The little ones and I took a trip to the beach for a day after Thanksgiving treat. This is my favorite time of year to go the beach, it's free of crowds, cold, windy, and in a few weeks the seals will be back for the winter.....



the plovers are back...



and nothing takes the chill out like some hot chowder and clamcakes...



We ended the day with a new pile of shells for our ever growing collection, rosy cheeks and full bellies, and happy tired kids with sand in their shoes.

Christmas Gifts for Me!!!

A Christmas Headscarf




with a button closure



made from two old t-shirts...



And a work in progress, sweatshirt fleece, and fabric scraps,



inspired by Frida Kahlo,



which I hope to have finished for a party on the 11th...
It's been a long month with a lot of sick kids (and a sick mom) this has been my slow going pick me up.

Nellie's art

My younger brother surprised us with a visit last week. He lives in Georgia now so we don't see him very often. He and Nellie share a passion for drawing, they spent a busy morning drawing pictures for each other. Here's Nellie's sketch of our beloved Raggedy Ann doll. She is in reality as raggedy and well loved as she looks in this portrait.



Pretty good for a seven year old I think...
Next week the little artist starts ballet lessons, I expect pictures of ballerinas to follow.

November Projects

What I've made this month so far.....

Bracelets made from wool, buttons, bits and scraps of yarn, etc....



they are toasty warm and can double as coffee cup cozies



one of several scarves made of flannel and doilies



mitts, mitts, and more mitts.

October = Busy Busy Busy

Craft sales, church bazaars, harvest festivals...busy month of sewing and selling and no time blog, more of the same this month. Sales have been going really well so I can't complain. Nellie has been at my side at most events, she has a tin of buttons and some waxed linen string, for one dollar she will teach you how to make a bracelet. She's been doing pretty well in the sales department herself. Here are some of the highlights.

two old t-shirts mitts..
this is the first pair, I've also made some in blue/white, purple/apple green, and red/apple green.



they are very comfortable and just right for inside, and unlike a lot of woolen ones they don't get in the way of sewing or knitting.....



bracelet - t-shirt scraps, curtain scraps, scraps of scraps...



A kerchief for Nellie



and Nellie and Joe in their Halloween finery, Joe was a pirate skeleton, Nellie was Lucy from the chronicles of Narnia. Joe's costume was from the costume box, Nellie's is made up of the cloak she helped make, and a women's velvet dress and fleece jumper from a thrift shop. They were very proud of their creations and made out like bandits Trick or Treating.