Wednesday, August 12, 2015

SOME CATCH UP AND A COMPLETED PROJECT!


Somehow it seems ridiculous to do a "week-end wrap up" post on Wed.  If I haven't done it by now I think maybe it's too late, lol.  I just can't seem to get into a good swing of things.  I am always a little behind recently it seems, and yet I am really not doing anything of any real significance.  Not sure what's happening over here.  I will just say this.....Our week-end was ordinary and good.  Nothing worth really posting about, just more of our usual routines.  We were SUPPOSED to have my youngest sons oldest 3 for the week-end, but it got postponed as hubby and I both seemed to have a little stomach bug.  It wasn't a bad one as those viruses go, but neither one of us wanted to not be feeling our best with the kids here.  As usual hubby got over it quicker [he ALWAYS does!] and yet honestly since he is the one who has to work, I am really glad he was feeling perfect by Monday.  I seem to be completely fine this morning, so guess we can call that a wrap.

I have officially and FINALLY finished ONE of the advent calendars.  OH MY GOODNESS...is what I have to say about that. In some ways soo typical for me,  If I had a clue how long it was going to take to make this simple thing I might have would have passed on it.  There are HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS of work in the thing, lol.  Absolutely nothing difficult about it, or "fiddly" or any of the things that usually make me regret starting something, just time consuming.  And here we are near to being half way through August, and I have only completed one of the things!  Two more to go!  lol  I have SOOO much on my "sewing burner" not sure I will pull it all off.  But guess I will just sit down and sew everyday and what gets done gets done.  I refuse to stress over it.  NO ONE puts any pressure on me but myself, but I am a mighty force, lol.  So I am doing my best.  Let me show you the finished thing.  I still have to figure a way to hang it.  I might make a little sleeve and insert a dowel, or I might just tell them to use push pins, lol  We will see.


TA DA!!  lol  YES, MY SAINTED HUBBY IS HOLDING THIS UP FOR ME WHICH  DOES GIVE YOU A CLUE TO IT'S SIZE [he is six ft. two] I AM NOT TOTALLY HAPPY WITH THE TOPPER [WHICH I JUST KIND OF MADE UP!] AS IT NEEDS TO BE BIGGER AND SEEN BETTER, BUT IT WILL DO

HERE IS A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE ENVELOPES.  EACH ONE OF THESE LITTLE DESIGNS HAD TO BE STITCHED UP, THEN CUT OUT, AND THEN THE NUMBERS HAD TO STITCHED UP and cut out AND HAVE A BOW HOT GLUED TO THEM, AND THEN THAT GOT HOT GLUED TO THE ENVELOPE, AND THEN THE ENVELOPES HAD TO BE HOT GLUED TO THE BACKGROUND.  LOTS OF HOT GLUING GOING ON IN THIS PROJECT.  AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT REMEMBER MY LAST YEAR ORNAMENT MAKING PROJECT, HOT GLUE AND I DO NOT DO VERY WELL TOGETHER, LOL.  I AM GETTING A TINY BIT BETTER.  ONLY A FEW BURNS BY THE END OF THIS

CLOSER LOOK AT THE TOP.  I COMBINED A FEW DESIGNS AND RE-HOOPED 3 TIMES TO MAKE THIS.  IT'S OK....BUT ONLY OK, LOL.  SHOULD HAVE MADE THE LITTLE HOUSES BY THE TREE WHITE SO THEY CAN BE SEEN BETTER, AND HONESTLY I WISH I HAD APPLIQUED INSTEAD, BUT OH WELL  I WAS GOING TO TAKE THE TIME TO MEASURE AND DRAW LINES TO BE SURE ALL THE ENVELOPES WERE EVENLY PUT ON THERE, BUT DECIDED I COULDN'T TAKE THE TIME TO DO IT AND SO I JUST DEAD EYED IT.  LOOKS PRETTY GOOD TO ME,  AND EVEN IF IT'S NOT I DOUBT THE KIDS WILL NOTICE.  THESE ENVELOPES ARE LARGE ENOUGH TO HOLD A FEW PIECES OF CANDY, OR STICKERS, OR WHATEVER THEIR PARENTS CHOSE TO PUT IN THEM.  

Now I am ready this morning to start the next one.  Melody wanted more of a Christian theme to her advent calendar [if possible] for her kids, SOOO that of course resulted in my looking a bajllion places for ideas and ways to do it.  I finally found [took some time!] some designs of the nativity people and figures etc. that if I play with them a bit and outsmart my machine I am going to make the same little pockets with those on the front of the envelopes instead.  I think there is a Mary, baby Jesus, Joseph, shepherds, the wise men, camel, angel, donkey, etc.  And then there will be some sort of a stable scene on the top.  This one that is finished is for Jeffy and Cody, and then I will give Larissa her choice as to which one of the two she wants for her kids.  Let me show you the one I made up yesterday of a wise man.  It was just to see if I could get the designs to combine OK.  I need to run to Joannes this morning to get some more felt before I can get started though.

PRETTY CUTE THOUGH I AM NOT SURE OF WHAT COLOR ANYTHING I AM GOING TO GO WITH
And then in between working on the Advent Calendar I am occasionally working on more ornaments as well.  I found the prettiest design for a FSL ornament of the nativity, [in my search for nativity figures!] and decided to make one of those for everyone as well.  Talk about simple.  You just hoop some water soluble stabilizer and stitch away.  Only two color changes for these.  HOWEVER! the designs are quite involved and take SUPER long to stitch.  I hoop two at a time and it takes a good hour and forty five minutes to complete.  The good part is I can walk away from the machine and switch loads of laundry, or cook dinner etc. while it stitches away.  I am doing them all white and then a different color for the outline look.  Let me show you.....




AS YOU CAN SEE IT IS A MUCH TIGHTER WEAVE IN THIS DESIGN....THIS IS A DARK SLATE BLUE


AND THIS ONE IS DONE IN LIGHT GOLD



THESE TWO ARE STILL ON MY MACHINE WAITING FOR ME TO SOAK THEM ETC.  THE STABILIZER IS CLEAR...YOU CAN BARELY SEE IT


YOU CAN SEE IT A LITTLE BETTER HERE....THESE ARE A LIGHT MAUVE, AND A LIGHT OLIVE GREEN...NOT SURE WHICH COLOR I LIKE BEST...
 OK, guess that's it for now.  I will finish with this week's best grandkid pics....Hope you are all having a good week, and you are able to keep busy with all the things that bring joy to your hearts and days...Blessings, Debbie

MISS CLAIRE.....REMEMBER THIS LITTLE OUTFIT?  I THINK IT IS THE FIRST ONE I MADE.  MEL POSTED THIS ON INSTAGRAM WITH THE CAPTION THAT READ....."CLAIRE JUST HEARD IT'S GOING TO BE OVER 100 FOR THE NEXT FOUR DAY!"  LOL  [she's laying on a sheet I made for her too!  love it!]

ON ONE OF THE SUPER HOT DAYS MEL SAT IN THEIR BACK YARD WATCHING THE BOYS KEEP COOL IN THEIR LITTLE WADING POOL WHILE SHE AND CLAIRE SAT IN THE SHADE KEEPING COOL IN THEIR SUITS, LOL.  HOW CUTE IS CLAIRE'S LITTLE SUIT?

SAN DIEGO ZOO FOR THESE 4......CAN'T BELIEVE SUMMER IS ALMOST OVER!

AND A BEACH DAY FOR THEM!
And you just have to hear Sam reciting [with a little help from mama] John 3:16.  Be still my heart!

7 comments:

  1. I love your work, Debbie. You are mega-talented. And that Sam ... just precious. They all are.

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  2. Aw Debbie, hearing your sweet Sam recite god's word must make your heart swell with happiness.
    I think your advent calendar turned out great. and I can only imagine how many times you had to change those threads!!
    How many are you making?

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  3. I love your advent calendars and I love those ornaments. Your grands are just wonderful I can't believe how much Claire has grown.
    What a bunch of cuties.

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  4. Debbie, I know I keep repeating myself, but girl you are amazing! Love the Advent calendar, but what a lot of work. Love the photos of the grands-they are so cute. Claire is a beauty, just like her mom.
    Have a great day!
    Hugs, Noreen

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  5. Oh my, I literally laughed out loud at this: NO ONE puts any pressure on me but myself, but I am a mighty force, lol.

    I keep dreaming about making my grands an Advent calendar, but in reality I don't suppose I'll ever get around to it. I'm not crafty enough to even contemplate doing something like what you're doing.

    I love those little nativity ornaments ... just love them!!

    And as always, Debbie, your grands are just. too. precious!

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  6. No need to apologize for being late in posting! I have spent most of this summer trying to play catch up...on my blog and at home and in every possible area of life!

    Your family is going to love having these advent calendars that you are making. I am sure that they will become family treasures!

    Sweet kid photos...as always!!

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  7. Debbie your crafts and your grands as so so precious!!

    Hugs!

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I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!