Two Weeks...Too Long

Two weeks is definitely too long to go between posts. I missed writing, but was so busy with grandchildren there was no time. When there are ten people in the house, there is always laundry to be done, meals to be prepared, and dishes to do. Then the toys and books around the house to be picked up...the list could go on forever...I know you young moms are saying, "that's me EVERYDAY!", but I am A LOT older than you and this ole body gets tired quicker than it used to! Bless your hearts for raising the next generation! I'm praying for you.

This is the patient bear that I needed to finish the face on. I love this one! I hope her new owner does too. If she doesn't like her, I will make another one, but I'm thinking she will. I still need to dress her for the southeast United States. I will have to look up the weather where she's going so she will be dressed properly. TOO CUTE!!

The panda is coming along as is the quilt I am testing for Jessica with The Quilt and Needle. The quilt is a redesign of a previous pattern, I am checking to make sure the measurements and fabric requirements are still correct. I loved the first one, I am sure I will love this one too. I did different colors this time, it is quite "antique" looking this go. I am using some civil war reproductions for that look.

I think I will brave it and just go straight to the fur for the panda. After the tweeking of the legs and body, I think it will work better and since I am sewing by hand, I can take the additional time to make it perfect. Fur works better for me than cotton...can't wait to post a panda pic!

Have a wonderful day! I love hearing from you. Have a fabulous weekend and enjoy your free time. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate you.

happy crafting,

Debi 

Too Long...

Not only has it been too long since I posted, but the legs on this panda are too long as well! It was back to the drawing board for a shortening of the legs and a lengthening of the black part of the body front. I made a prototype in cotton first, making sure the pattern was viable...it is, just need to tweek here and there. Can't wait to see this one in fur!

This one is just hanging out looking at me, patiently waiting for a nose and mouth. She has a few of her mates watching her to make sure she doesn't get into too much trouble while she waits. She is quite a nice bear. Her body is a really good shape and her proportions are well done. She has lovely big feet and good definition in the face. The only thing I am not sure about is the ear placement. I am thinking they are a bit low and need to be pulled up closer together. We will see what she looks like after I finish her face. I just want to sit and cuddle her. She has a new home all the way across the country (from west coast to east coast!), I better dress her a bit warmer than she is!

We have been very busy around here. I think I told you we had a wee break in between sets of grandchildren. Well, the second set of five is here. They are between 3 and 12 years old...quite a handful and we have been busy at the zoo, park, desert, eating, eating, eating!!!, and squeezing in a bit of sleeping here and there. The first week they were here, their parents were away at a trade show and Grandad and I got to spoil them without parental guidance! Now that they are home, not so much, but still enjoy the noise around the house and bodies everywhere when it's time for bed.

I am hoping you are not as busy as I am right now, and if you are that you take some time for yourself! I enjoy the time when family is here, but I need to squeeze in a bit of "me time" every now and then to regain focus. Let me know what you've been up too, I love to hear from you. Please post on one of the Facebook pages, The Crafter's Thread or Pieces Squared...I can't wait to hear about your adventures. I appreciate you.

Thanks for stopping by,

Debi

Didn't Make It :-(

Oh well! Today is another day, right? I didn't meet my goals yesterday, but it's okay. I got other things done that needed doing before the grandchildren arrive tomorrow. I got the bear pinned and the two-part pieces done. The head is three steps and is finished. The arms are two-steps, the first step is finished and they are pinned. The legs are pinned as is the body (after the darts were sewn).

We have a puppy coming with them, I just had to go get some little things for her! I love the collar! Nana's my name, spoilin's my game. I love puppies. You can see her pic here with our daughter in her sweet little hat! Her name is Bobbin (how fitting for me), and she weighs 3 pounds 15 oz. Too cute. I am going to love her to death! 

She is going to be adorable in her new little dress. Even though it is an xsmall, I believe it still may be too big! I promise to post pics when she arrives. I'm sure she will be in most of the grandchildren pictures as well! Can't wait for their visit.

I need to get this published and try to meet those goals today. I am penciled in with a friend for lunch. I had to postpone from the other day, something came up. I'm hoping we make it today!

I hope your day is fantastic and you accomplish YOUR goals, even if I can't! Have a wonderful weekend. Hope to see you post on one of our Facebook pages. We enjoy your inspiration! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate you.

happy trails,

Debi 

Time to Knuckle Down

I really need to knuckle down, stop being so selfish, and sew for others. I have a teddy bear and two quilts that are sold and not finished. In my defense on the teddy bear, I have designed two for her and I didn't like either one, not my best work and not worthy to sell! I think I've got it though. I sat down, designed one about ten inches tall and love the design of the feet and head. The body is podgy (my favorite) and arms seem to have nice proportions.

I got it all on the fur with my new  permanent fabric marker, I like it that it doesn't bleed when I put the fray stop on. It is all ready for me to carry on sewing today. Hopefully, I will finish this bear and get to some much needed sewing. Tomorrow should be pretty free except for cleaning and preparing for the Alaska crew to arrive Saturday evening. 

I do have most of the melons ready for the first quilt sold. The second one just sold and we haven't started it yet. The new owner received it as a gift for Christmas and was given a blank slate to work with. These are fun! I look forward to working with her on color and design.

Well, I need to get this posted and back to this bear if I want to accomplish my goals today. Thanks for stopping by. Have a fantastic day and please take the time to do something you love. I appreciate you.

Happy Thursday,

Debi

 

Just a little thing!

Amongst the traveling to Phoenix, I did get the ears and eyes on the teddy bear, I finished the face when we got home. I was a bit afraid to do the embroidery in the car! This is my smallest bear to date. It is also pretty cute. Here it is with the 7 inch one I just finished. She's really tiny.

 

Here she is with the bigger one I finished a couple weeks ago. The large one is 14 inches, so not really all that large. The baby bear is spot on 4 inches tall when standing. When she sits, she proudly tops the ruler at 3 inches. The largest one here is showing off his new pocket watch. Now I need to re-make the vest and add a pocket. Silly me forgot the first and second time and it is already lined. I don't want to add a pocket as an after thought! The middle sized bear still needs a bow in her hair. Judy T. suggested a rosette on her head, I think I'll do that as it won't distract from the beautiful fur.

I think my calendar is completely clear today, except for church this evening...watch out sewing machine, here I come! I love to have an entire day to just play around in my studio. How about you, what are you up today? I hope you have time to do the things you love. Please share on our page on Facebook, we love to see what you're up to. Judy A. just finished another teddy bear, white and cute! Can't wait to see what you're working on.

Thanks for stopping by,

Debi

WWIT??

WHAT WAS I THINKING??? I had this hair brained idea yesterday to make a tiny little weeny bear, I must have been nuts at the time. I made one that finishes at four inches standing. That's too small!!! There is barely room for joints, once the joints are all in the body, there is no room for filling! I hardly got any stuffing in it at all! OH MY GOODNESS! Here the eye-less ted is sitting on my mouse. Cheeky little thing!!

I should have known it was really tiny when all the pieces easily fit on an 8-1/2 x 11" piece of paper for drying after the fray stopping glue was painted on. Seriously! It took me NO time at all to stitch it. The most time consuming thing was turning the thing the right way out!

Here it is with test eyes in so you can at least find the head on the furry little blob. All joking aside, I won't make one this small again, at least not a jointed one. There is simply not enough room to get everything in there for jointing. It was a good learning experiment. I do think at one point though, I was willing to throw it away. I am glad a persevered!

We took Henry (our dachshund) to the vet Monday. He needed his two year old shots and check up. He had a seizure two weeks ago and we wanted him checked for that as well.  He is good now and hasn't had one since, but the vet still ran some tests that we should be hearing back from soon. I am sure he's good as gold. I think it bothered us more than him. He is my sweet buddy.

I hope you have a fantastic day. I will be running errands early afternoon, so probably won't get much time to "play". I will take this little tike with me as we are traveling to Phoenix and I will have a bit of travel time to finish his face. Please post on the Crafter's Thread or Pieces Squared Facebook page, I love to see your projects.

Thanks for stopping by,

Debi  

Here It Is!!

I did finally finish the plucking on the sweet little ted and thought I would show you. I am in love with this one. I filled the arms, legs, and head with polyfil, but the body is full of garnet sand. This one has a bit of weight now!  However, I was a quarter of an inch off. I thought it would be seven inches and it is 7-1/4 inches. Here it is pictured with my mouse so you can judge the size. 

 I haven't decided if I will pluck more from the face though. I kinda like the look right now and I CANNOT put the fur back on. Once I pluck, it's gone forever! Looking a the picture, I see one strand of fur on the chin that must come out!! 

It also needs it's neck wear or whatever I decide to "dress" it in. The fur is so soft and pretty, I don't want to cover much of it. Maybe a bow on her head or a tiny bow tie around his neck?? Maybe just a pair of earrings or a necklace...I will just let it speak to me for a bit before I decide.

I hope to get some time to finish my patriotic BOM (block of the month) from 2014. I have 11 of the 12 blocks done, if I could just finish that last block, I could clear another thing off my cutting table. Then only two remain, one that needs a border finished and the wedding ring. I am very happy to get these WIPs (work in progress) off my table. Maybe I should call them WISPs instead...work in SLOW progress!! I hope to have a picture of another finished quilt top tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate you. Please take some time to post your projects on The Crafter's Thread or Pieces Squared page on Facebook. I love to see your projects and be inspired to jump outside my box and try something different. I would love to try the balloons Mandy made for her girls for Christmas...maybe a tutorial is in order!! Still working on the bear tutorials, I decided to go video instead of pictures...big job!

happy day!

Debi