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!