It's Official!

I'm addicted to teddy bears!!! Don't get me wrong, I love making quilts, I love sewing for my grandchildren, and I love making porcelain and cloth dolls.  I just find myself with teddy bears in every room of my house! I pulled out a hot pad yesterday and found about five with teddy bears on them! I have framed art in my sewing room....teddy bears. I have shelves in my living room....teddy bears.  I have fur, polyfil, and teddy bear parts in every area where I spend time. They say (who are "they" anyway) that the first step to recovery is to admit there is a problem. I am not sure I want to admit it's a problem though....I love my teddy bears!

What is it that you love so much you find it in every room of your house? I have friends who love to make cards, etc. with rubber stamps and other things, some love to scrapbook (digital and paper), others love to do yarn crafts (knitting and crocheting), and still others who love to sew and make quilts.  I would love to know what occupies your spare time...even if it isn't a craft! 

I am designing another bear today. Sometime really soon, I am going to branch out and try a different animal.  I have two really cute miniature dachshunds and I think I want to try to reproduce them in fur and polyfil! I'd like to try a rabbit with hugely long ears and feet. So many goals, so little time!

Enjoy your day. I hope you get some time to do the things you love. Please share with us.

P.S. I did go to the doctor for this silly loss of voice...both ears are infected as are my sinuses! Seriously, who has time to be sick??

happy crafting,

Debi

Technical Difficulties!!

I'm sorry I didn't get a post out this morning. I have been trying for three days to get pictures to upload.  I am not sure what the problem is, SO...I asked my husband to have a look at everything for me. I am hoping by this time tomorrow, or really WAY sooner, I will have my pictures back and can get the blog up to date!!

Thanks for your patience!!

Keep busy... I may take some time to design another bear today, haven't done one is a while and I have an idea I want to try.  Hope you have time to do something you love!! Please share on our facebook page or right here.  If you have trouble, email or pm me and I will upload your pic for you.

happy crafting,

Debi

Speechless!

Today I find myself, for the fourth day in a row, without a voice. I think the grandchildren are liking not having Nana hollering at them. They are asking me to repeat what I say so they can actually hear me! Oh well, the "quiet time" has given me some time to sew on a teddy bear and do a bit of knitting.

I have been working on a new teddy bear. I plan to lay this one on her tummy and kick her feet in the air or sit with her legs hanging off the edge of the shelf. Can't wait to get her finished to see if my plan worked. She is going to be tiny when she sits, probably about three inches (or less) from her bum to her ears. It is going to be hard to measure her as she doesn't stand. Here's her wee leg...

I hope to finish this by the end of the weekend and be able to post pics to show you what I mean. I have most of the other pieces sewn and waiting for the legs. If I would just get busy, I could finish it! How do you "dress" a teddy bear who is laying on her tummy anyway???

I know that dishcloths are the easiest thing in the world to knit, but I enjoy taking those with me in my "go bag".  I find them an easy, instant gratification project that will go anywhere. I can always gift them and I am teaching my granddaughters to knit by making them.  The problem is I really don't like unfinished projects, so I find myself pulling from my bag to finish up. Am I OCD or what?????

We spent the afternoon at Mayo Thursday. Shane is still all clear and getting raving reports from his oncologists.  We are so thankful for the continued healing and strength. Our two year battle with colo-rectal cancer seems to be over. We pray he remains all clear and the cancer doesn't come back. His doctors are keeping a close eye on him, he sees them every three months for now.

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate you. Don't forget to post here, on our Facebook page "The Crafter's Thread", or wherever you like, but let us see what you're doing. I find great inspiration from you.

happy crafting,

Debi

Been Busy...

Do you ever feel like you are so busy being busy that you don't have time for the things you want to do?? The past few weeks have been full of grandchildren (which we truly love), but has given me little time to sew on bears, quilts, or knit. 

On the up-side, I will be working with Becky Jorgensen and the Patchwork Posse blog, website, and facebook page as a contributor. I will be posting tutorials, tips and tricks, and patterns on her site. We have been discussing details for a few weeks and I can't wait to work with her. She is crafty like me, sewing not only quilts, but other things including soft toys and clothes.  

AND, I tested blocks for Jess at The Quilt and Needle. She is currently in Africa on a medical/teaching missions trip.  Her husband is the medical side and she will be teaching the ladies how to sew, make quilts, and make money from their efforts.  I tested the ten blocks she will be teaching them.  They were pictured in her last newsletter.  I have way too much fun! Here is the image cut from her post today.  I am uber excited.

Just for your enjoyment, here's a pic of our youngest grandchild and our daughter's dog. Isn't it just too sweet?!?!?! We have eight in the house right now (children, not dogs!!) and it is a noisy crazy place, but fun at the same time. We have seen all ten of them so far this summer. Our son and his family left about a week before the next crew came. Now we have both girls with us and their eight!! By the way, we have nine dogs with all the kids and grandkids dogs here!!!

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check out Patchwork Posse's blog at: PatchworkPosse.com and her facebook page Patchwork Posse. There is also a "join the group" page for those serious crafters (like me!!). Also, please post on our Crafter's Thread facebook page or here with your current projects. I can't wait to see what you're up to. I appreciate you!

happy crafting,

Debi