Christmas is A Comin'

I can't believe how close it is to Christ mas! I posted a few more things on Etsy, but I haven't been able to work on many other things. The weather has been 100% humidity here, and that affects my arthritis rather badly. The rheumatoid arthritis has been bothering my fingers, and sometimes the tips of my fingers on my right hand are numb. Not too much fun!  And, I finally have the time to do what I have wanted to do for years, and now my fingers are going numb.  Things are going to change!!!
I'm trying to get things organized around here over "Christmas break."  I never can find the right sized knitting needles, or a certain trim, or whatever, because I didn't put it back in its place - well, it's going to have to find a place now!!! That's going slowly, due to the weather's effect on my arthritis, but it WILL BE DONE!
I'm working on a few projects for Christmas presents.  Right now, I'm making tooth fairy dolls for my granddaughter and grandson,  The bodies are felted.  The girl doll has a "purse" which was two circles - felted and will be sewn together, but her clothes and butterfly wings are made "regularly." The boy doll will have shorts and carries a skate board which has a pouch in which to place the tooth and for the fairy to leave the money.
I need to make a few things for my step granddaughter: a pillow, a headband, and some jewelry.  I hope she likes them.  It's so difficult to know what she likes as I rarely see her - or my granddaughter, for that matter, but, hopefully, we'll see each other over Christmas.
Better close for now. I'm going to read for a while, and then get started on my last few Christmas projects!
Merry Christmas!

Postings on Etsy

I finally got some things posted on my daughter's Etsy site today.  This is one of them.  I'm calling him Oscar - he reminds me of one of the guys in "The Odd Couple."  I sent a picture of him to my daughter, and now my granddaughter wants one in "puwple!" Better get to my stash and get one going!

I also posted a headband that I really love. My computer is not working very well right now, so it's not uploading anything very well, and after waiting 10 minutes for a picture to upload, I decided that I wasn't going to wait any longer, so....

Another Wonderful Day!

It sure was beautiful today!  The sun shone most of the day, and, so far, we haven't had the rain that has been promised.
My daughter came over after running an errand, and we went to Dollar General where I picked up a few things.  Then we did this wonder thing: we went through the drive through at Burger King!!!!!! I actually ordered a burger which I don't usually do because I don't care that much for beef. But sometimes I go against the grain, so to speak.
I've been working on finishing up some projects since dinner. I have a tiny teddy bear sewn and stuffed.  Now, I need to sew some felt circles for eyes and nose and embroider a mouth. Hopefully, I will be able to put it on the web site tomorrow. Then I tucked the ends in on a couple of scarves that I finished a while ago. I'll wash them this evening and photograph them tomorrow. I'm taking a break from finishing up a baby sweater.  It's so sweet.  It has a kind of lacey boder around the neck, sleeves, and bottom.  I also like the fact that it's such a soft yarn.  It's also a pretty color, being different for a baby item. I will try to put a pictue of it on the blog tomorrow - if I remember.  I have to work outside the house tomorrow, and I'm not sure how long that will take.
I'm hoping to work on a ring also tonight and sew some beads on a flower - ring? barrette?
I have so much to do around the house that I'm not getting as many crafts done as I'm wanting to! Just keep on keeping on.

Pattern Collecting Day

On bad health days, I spend some time collecting patterns.  I look up patterns on my phone sometimes and email the links to my yahoo account.  Then I look at them more closely and copy and paste to my word.I have TONS of patterns.  Now I have to feel like making things!
After so many years of having chronic illnesses, I guess that I have learned to live - to a certain extent - with having bad days.  I can't tell you how I used to resent a bad health day.  Another day out of my life, I'd think, when I'm not LIVING. Then I survived a sadistic, abusive husband, and I had even more bad days!! But I now respect these days and am thankful for being alive because I very nearly didn't survive my marriage.
Enough said; enough sadness.  I did get a lot of ideas and patterns to add to my collections and make for our shops: Ellas Green Nursery, jewisley4, and I Just Felt LIke It on Etsy. After all, as someone once said: "Tomorrow is another day!"
I work with several different media: yarn, fabrics, felt, ribbons, beads, and whatever strikes my fancy. And I'm interested in learning more new crafts - besides drawing!  I can't draw worth beans, but I do try to dry out my own designs which I hope to share with you later.
After all, "tomorrow is another day!"

A Little Visit from the West

Just had a wonderful visit from my daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter.  It was my daughter's birthday week, so they came out - she misses the changing colors of the trees.  It certainly was beautiful while she was here. We love to go to a pumpkin patch and corn maze in southern Indiana. It's become a yearly tradition to go as a family - my other daughter's family and my youngest have been going for years. Now Rachel and her little one come out to visit the pumpkins and Ella rides the pony - three times.  She now wants a pony. (You can tell she's one of us!)
We also mangaged to do some shopping, eating out (there's no Cracker Barrel where she lives), talking, etc. A GREAT time.  Unfortunately, I didn't get anything else on my Etsy site, but I did get a few more patterns and ideas, so I've got to get cracking!
Will post more soon!

Work, Work, Work

I posted some more things to my Etsy site - not much just a wall hanging and a couple of other things.  I added some baby hats to my daughter's site:Ellasgreennursery.  She doesn't have too much time now since she's five months pregnant, so I'm going to try to keep up her site and mine.  I also have an ebay site that I just opened to sell "things," and I've already sold a wedding photo album.  I got the album for a wedding gift, intending to fill it with pictures of the wedding, but things just didn't turn out very well, and it wasn't long before the couple was divorced! So now it will make a nice gift or something for someone else.
I have been so busy. I had to write a letter to the state: I'm being sued for something my son did which he wouldn't have done if the state had done their job in the first place - long story.
I have finished a few things; well, I just need to do a few little things to "tweek" them. Then they'll go on the web site.
My daughter and her husband and GRANDDAUGHTER are coming for a visit.  It's my daughter's birthday week. Her last twenty birthday.  Gosh, I'm getting old!
I need to finish a few smocked ornament kits - and try to pleat some Christmas fabric to make some more to try to sell on Etsy and at the trading post where I put my collectibles.
Better get back to work.  I'm cleaning the carpets today.  Hopefully, it will get up the little things that fall on the carpet - or come through from the basement.  We still have soot coming up through the boards from a fire we had in the basement years ago! 
Keep on keeping on!

Finishing Up

I'm trying to get some of my projects finished.  I have several booties to sew together and the baby hat that I was working on today.  I'm also just finished a baby hat.  I really like it.  I found the pattern on the Internet.  It has little rows of ruffles going around it.  I think it would be a really cute gift for a baby girl!

I also made one in pink with just shells along the bottom - no rows of "flowers" aroud it. I don't think this picture does it justice. I sent it from my cell phone; it usually does a fairly good job, so I'm rather disappointed.  I do like the different color, though.  I bought the yarn on Ebay from China, but the label says "pure Australian wool." It is SO soft. I plan on buying more when I get more moeny!  So that means I need to sell a few things on our Etsy shop! 
Speaking of which: so far, we've had a few people looking at either the shop or separate listings.  I'm hoping that business will pick up as it gets closer to Christmas.  Wish us luck.  I have some things on my daughter's web site: Ella's Green Nursery, and I have some at my shop jewisley4 which will be changing to I Just Felt Like it because I like to work with felt AND I make things that I feel like making!
Anyway, it's time to get back to work.
Happy crafting!

Doctor's visit

Today was a long day.  Both my mother and I had a doctor's appointment; mine at 1 and her's at 2.  They both lasted over an hour, and I was starving when she finally came out of the office, so we ran a couple of errands and then stopped at McDonald's.  Did I telly you that we're a class act?
I did get some time to craft today.  (Housework?)  I finished a striped baby hat.  It was from a kit, and I wasn't too sure of the colors: taupe, black, yellow, and white.  It reminds me of a bumble bee, but it's kind of cute.  I also worked a little on my potato chip scarf.  It's taken me longer to make than I thought it would.  I guess it's all the turning.  It is cute, though.  Next time, I'll use larger needles.
I also finished a smocked Christmas ball this week.  I really am fairly happy with it.  It's been so long since I made anything, and I need to get back into doing it.  I used to make clothes - smocked and heirloom - for my kids.  Now that I have a grandson, two granddaughters and another one on the way, I need to get back to it!

Here's my Christmas ornament.  I'm going to take it out to my booth at the Highway 46 Trading Post.  I have a few more to make,  They're fun and quick - and practice.
(There's a really cute pattern that I'd like to make for my (now) youngest granddaughter.  She loves Cinderella, and I have a smocking plate that has a Cinderella scene on it. Can't wait to get started.  I'll need to make it with sleeves.  Her second birthday is February 2nd, and they live in a cold climate!
Until next time.

I'm ba-ack!

I've haven't felt well - which is why I retired.  But I was hoping to feel better - and sooner.  I guess though, that I should be grateful that I am no longer at the school where I was working as they were very abusive there!
I haven't got a lot of things done, but I do have a few things listed on my web site at Etsy: Ijustfeltlikeit, and at Jewisley4, and on my daughter's web site at Etsy: Ellasgreennursery.  I didn't realize that I couldn't just change my name on my account, so I FINALLY made a new web site, which is the I just felt like it one.
I'm trying a lot of different things as I enjoy all kinds of crafts: knitting, crochet, sewing, fabric crafts, etc., so there will be a variety on my websites.  I hope in the future to post some tutorials of some of the things that I have done.
Well, it's good to be back.  I'll keep on resting, and maybe someday, I'll feel human again.

Last day of "cool" for a while

The weather has been so perfect lately - not too hot and cool enough to sleep. That's about to change. 90 plus degrees for 10 days! In Indiana, that means hellish conditions. I wish I had an airconditioned suit! Hmm, maybe that would make a good crafting idea.
I took some new things over to the Trading Post where I've been trying to sell some of the things that we no longer need. I suddenly realized that it's time to get cracking on Christmas projects to sell there. I've been so tired. I know why, but that doesn't make it any easier to take! I'm thinking of taking Christmas balls with rags and music on them. Maybe some felt? I also want to knit and crochet some hats and do some special onesies. I need to review my Christmas ornament patterns and see what's a good idea.
Anyway, the next few days should be interesting - if we live through them! I absolutely hate the heat! I may have to spend a couple of nights at cheap motels!
Happy crafting!

I understand why they say that time flies!

I've not been doing too much. I went to the doctor today - I might be tired due to a vitamin deficiency. Am going for blood work Monday. Prayers would be greatly appreciated. I really need to get my websites going and my house rearranged so that I can work from home like I have wanted to do for over 20 years now!

Deals! Deals! Deals!

I found some great deals at JoAnn's today. There were so many jewelry items for 50 cents. I was so excited! I also splurged and bought a doll book and a book with little birds. Couldn't resist. I found some cute little hair bows on sale which I make up for little Ella and send to her when I send her box of stuff later this week. Can't wait to get started on her things and things for the web site. I'm feeling better - as in I actually made it out to run a few errands today even after not sleeping well last night (long story).
Well, I need to get busy - only a couple of hours until it's bedtime, but I had to do some other things before I started working on the crafts.

Beautiful Day for Crafting

Of course, any day is a beautiful day if you're crafting! I plan on sewing later. I have some clothes to make for my granddaughter that I need to mail before she outgrows them! I also traced some toy patterns that I'd like to put on the web site: Ella's Green Nursery - well, no capitals and punctuation - at Etsy. I hope to have them finished by the end of the week and then add them to the web. I also want to add a few things to my web site - I just felt like it - also on Etsy. We'll have to see what happens.
I discovered that I love making fabric flowers. I want to make some out of ribbon and get some spray glitter to make them even snazzier. Little girls love glitter, and if the truth were told, so do I!

first Saturday in June

This has been a great day! The weather has been beautiful, and I have been able to enjoy it very much. At this time, I am watching television and thinking about things that I'd like to create. It is such a good feeling to know that time is my own and that it is up to me to make it or break it.
This has also been a very nice time with my kids. We went to the farmer's market this morning, and then came home to be with my mother for a little while before they left to either go home, or as my visiting daughter was doing, going to visit friends before he leaves to drive home on Monday.
I'm just spending the afternoon watching Haunted History on television and setting goals.

One more day

One more student day, and then a half day on Friday. I can't wait. I don't have any time when I work full time - plus all the time spent grading papers and keeping track of the grades! Which reminds me: I need to get busy. I have to finish the grades, and I have extra to do.
But I am happy; I signed a "lease" for shelf space at a local trading post. I'm hoping to sell some of the old things that we don't need, and somebody else will treasure and also sell some of my creations. It won't be long before school starts again. I'm thinking some Schultuette with pencils and toys in them and some other small craft projects and baby things for over the summer. Then for the fall: scaves and hats, Christmas ornaments, more baby things, etc. I'm SO hoping that I can do well at this.

Memorial Day

I didn't get much done today. I was going to finish grades, but then Rachel and baby came over, and she wanted to go out to eat at Cracker Barrel. So we did. Then a quick stop at Once Upon a Child to get a couple of things for Ella, and then home. I've been so tired this weekend. I think it's the weather that is making my arthritis flare up and be nasty! I did pick up some onsies at Once Upon to make some things for the website. I want to recycle, but the pick of plain onsies is getting very slim. They're downright ugly. The ones with the "cutsie" sayings are plentiful. There aren't very many white one in different sizes. I guess I'll have to start getting the onesies at JoAnn's, but that kind of defeats the purpose of being "green."
Not much else is going on. Three more student days, one more teacher day, and then I'm on my own.

One more Tuesday

Yeah! School's out in a little over a week - and not just for the summer this time! I finished a couple of little flower hair clips today and am working on some other things. It's rather difficult when you ache ALL OVER! It was bearable when I just had Myasthenia Gravis; I had to change my dream, but I was still able. Then, when I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, I thought, "It's not what I'd like, but I think I can live with it." And I did - for many years. But then, last year, when my sister-in-law died, I noticed that my hands were tingling. I thought it was just stress, but it didn't go away, so I went to the doctor. My rheumatoid factor was sky high! 239 when 19 is tops. I'm going to try to live my dream of crafting - and writing; something I've been wanting to do for years but was always told that couldn't do it. Now, I need to prove him wrong.
At any rate, I want to try to follow my 'art,' and I'm planning on succeeding.

Rainy Monday

It's raining - again. I didn't get much today. So far, just a hair bow. I received two patterns from Keepsake Quilting today. One is so cute. It's little Red Riding Hood: can't wait to get started on that. The other one is a kit. Fabric is used to make a log cabin quilt - just stitch the fabric onto a heavy felt and add embellishments. 6 new pins coming right up.

Saturday

Today was a busy day. We went to the farmer's market and then to Columbus for Nick's graduation party. I discovered a new Hobby Lobby with LOTS of items that I have been looking for (and finally ended up ordering from an online store - postage!). The unfortunate thing was that my daughters only gave me 20 minutes to shop. Not enough time to do anything, but we had to get to Nick's party exactly on the dot at 2, and then we had to stay until long after it was over at 5. Then another hour plus drive back home. I did enjoy finding things - just wish they would have given me time to look longer. I was allowed to stop for a few minutes on the return trip to get fabric for my granddaughter's dress. Not enough time for a trip to Hobby Lobby!

Tuesday - only 11 more days!

Counting down the days! As if you hadn't noticed. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that "retirement" will be good for me. My kids are pressing me to get another full time job, but I really want to try doing some other things full time - crafting being one of them.
I spent my lunch hour looking at patterns - again. I found the cutest little doll pattern that a woman had made for her friends for Mother's Day. I'm going to try making one, and if it works, I'll ask her if I can make and sell them. So cute.
I tried a new pattern - also one that I found on the web; a flower that is crocheted. I'd not seen one like this before that had the center crocheted. Then a button is attached for the center. It's really easy, and that's what I like.
My daughter and her daughter are arriving tomorrow from Colorado, and I don't know how faithful I'll be in the future, but, hopefully, she'll show me how to add pictures and other things. Then I'll be able to show some of the things that I'm working on.
Until then.

new patterns

I found a TON of new patterns on the Internet today. I can hardly wait to try some of them. There were some of the cutest things for babies - mainly girly things, but maybe I can find some boy things in the future. Besides, right now we have mainly girls - 2 granddaughters under 6, 1 nearly 16, and a new grandson, 8. Now I need to find some boy-ey things! (I did find the cutest Easter thing for my grandson at JoAnn Fabrics. They had the nicest kits - one of them was a mummy to wrap with a coffin (sorry, I can't spell the other word for it!) and a piramide bank. It was really cool, and he had a great time with his dad making it, and he even took it to school to show to his classmates. His dad sent a picture of their handiwork; they did an excellent job! The kit was definitely worth every penney. If you haven't noticed, I spend a lot of time at JoAnn's; I love sewing, knitting, felt crafts, and just about anything that deals with fabrics and textiles. I haven't done very much paper crafting, but it looks very interesting.
Anyway, back to the patterns; I found several today - just sitting in my mail box, waiting for me. How exciting is that? I spent a goodly portion of my lunch break copying and pasting them to a file to send to my daughter and to my home address. Such cute little things - made with T-Shirts and Onesies! Can't wait to get started.
Hope that everything is going well; it's getting much better for me!

Rainy Sunday

I think it's rained far more than 40 days and some odd nights, or in reverse. Trying to get ready to go to my futuer son-in-law's graduation party. Four years at IU as an informatics major. At least, I can understand that more than his first major - chemistry. Very proud!
I finished the needlework on a little purse that I'm making for Rachel's Etsy's site. It's really cute, and I plan on making one for my granddaughter who starts kindergarten this year. I think she would like it in a lighter pink, so I get to go shopping for more yarn! I'm making her a tiered skirt with cowboy boots and stars on it, plus a littlie owl skirt for my youngest granddaughter. Her mommy loves owls, so she doesn't get a choice!
I still haven't started on my fairies. They should be fun. My middle daughter - the future librarian - wants me to make fairies and the play mats for storytellers. Did I mention this before? I'm beginning to sound like my mother and uncle - the same stories over and over, but I'm a little younger, so maybe just a little crazier. Or stressed. At least, I always know how to spell desserts!
Got to get things together for the party, so I'm closing for now. I wonder where it will be; it was supposed to be outside.

Plans?

So much for making plans. I thought that I would get a lot done tonight toward Wednesday's Big Visit but instead I've spent the evening sleeping. I need to babyproof and clean out my room to make way for mommy (my daughter) and baby (Ella)! It will be an exciting next few weeks as they make their annual trip to Indiana. As Ella is 15 months, the things she will discover and be interested in will be so much fun to watch. I've enjoyed reading her mother's blog; at latest adventure, Ella loves goats. Unfortunately, we don't have any goats, but maybe we can find something to entertain her. Fortunately, she does love her "readies" - the name my older granddaughter gave to her books. Since we are a family of readie-enjoyers, I'm sure we can find something to entertain her. Luckily, Greatgrandma and she enjoy the same reading material - Eloise Wilkins. A favorite: Baby Dear.

It's Finally Friday!

Yeah! The blog's back up. I tried several times yesterday to post but nothing was there. I am still working on a knit purse. All I have to do is crochet it together and put the lining in, but yesterday was a hard day, and I was tired today - with a ton of stuff to do. My daughter and baby, or rather, toddler, Ella, will be here on Wednesday. I can hardly wait. She's walking now and talking more, so it should be fun, fun, fun!
I'm going to be rather busy this weekend baby-proofing the house and moving things around to make room for the daughter and granddaughter, but I'm hoping to be able to begin working on my fairies for my fairy house. That should be fun. I want to make a fairy house and play "station" for my 5-year-old granddaughter. I also have fabric to make a tiered skirt for both little granddaughters. Can't wait to get started.

Yeah, it's the middle of the week!

What a day - another run-in with our wonderful electric company. Don't want to go into details, but I don't know how anyone can afford electricity and be poor!
I managed to make a fabric flower and a pair of booties - need to add a decorative touch to the booties; these are boys, so maybe little felt frogs, or such? Then little ribbons or laces for ties.
I have the crochet hook and yarn all ready for crocheting a little purse together. Then it needs to be lined and have the handle sewn on. Then, it's on to Etsy!
I have so many ideas of things that I want to make but so little time. I really can't wait for school to be out so I can work full time on creating. I LOVE to make things.

What a week!

This week has been really busy. Grades for Ivy Tech were due today, and I really stressed about it. Things are getting down to the wire. Only 17 more kid days, and I'm on my own. I need to get my act together and get things made for my daughter's and my Etsy websites. It's kind of scary knowing that I won't have the salary coming in that I have enjoyed in the past, but I feel so much happier now that I've retired! The abuse at my worksite was terrific; now I just have to make it on my own. I feel like Mary Tyler Moore. Now for those of you who do not know what I'm talking about: Mary Tyler Moore had a show many years ago where she moved to the big city to "make it on her own." At the end of the opening song, she would take her hat off and toss it into the air. I won't be tossing my hat into the air, but I do plan on tossing some hats onto the website - and also some scarves, clothes, rings, beads, and any other thing that I can think of. I'll also be doing custom clothing. Anybody need a prom dress? getting married? riding in the show ring? have a toddler in search of a tiara? I'm here!

new stuff

I found some new patterns over the past few days and really look forward to getting some things done. For now, I have to finish grading for the high school where I teach and also for the community college. No wonder I'm so tired all the time!
I'm trying to get everything finished so that I can concentrate more on crafting - and getting the house set up for life coaching and tutoring. I'm rather nervous, but I just couldn't continue at the place where I have been working, so keep your fingers crossed, for here I come!

I Just Felt LIke It

Welcome to my new blog. I just opened an Etsy shop - nothing in it now, but I wanted to get it started. I have some things made, many of them made from - you guessed it - felt!! I love felt, so I naturally "felt" that I should incorporate it into the title somehow.
I'm sort of a Jill of all trades; I love working with felt; I'm trying my hand at the candle rugs, and beads, and baby shoes, and jewelry, and... I also love to knit and crochet and sew - heirloom and smocking and other types of things. I love making baby things and am making things to go on my daughter's Etsy shop - Ella's Green Nursery. Green, because we're making some eco-friendly type things and also because it's my daughter's favorite color. Ella is my youngest granddaughter's name, and, as you might suspect, we are making baby things. I've fallen a little behind in my duties, but I'm hoping to catch up in the next few weeks.
We're hoping to make things for babies, adults, pets, and holidays. Can't wait to get things posted on the web!