good day for a good day . . .

I made these a few weeks ago - just never posted a picture. 

They are small bags filled with rice.  They can be microwaved for 2 minutes to use as a heating pad, or put in the freezer to use a an ice pack.  

My granddaughter Avery loves them when they are cold . . . just to cool off when she is hot.

I have made larger one also that you can actually put around your neck, but I like these smaller ones better.  My scraps of fabric are now being sewn into masks . . . but this is a great way to use up fabric.

Our little Tatum Mae out for a walk.  She is growing so fast.

I could watch you for a single minute

and find a thousand things I love about you.

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

Sunshine and temperatures over 80 degrees

Walking every day

Taking pictures

Flip Flops

Staying up late 

Feeling rested

Binge watching shows with Richard (presently we are watching Ozark)

Planting sunflower seeds

just breath . . .

I was all over the place today.  My intention was to work on the pair of jeans 

that I started patching, but then decided to send for some specific thread to do that.  

That thread will be here on Thursday. (I love Amazon prime!)

     Brent called and they could not find the heating pads that I made them - so I moved on to sewing some for them.  They are simple - filled with rice and can be heated in the microwave or put in the freezer to cool.  I took a couple over to Brent and Ashley

. . . then came home and cut out and stitched a few more 

Then realized that the rice I use to put in them had dwindled down to almost nothing because Avery had come over to "play with rice" (She loves sensory activities.) 

. . . I then worked on a couple of dolls that I  started ages ago.

I watched some online art classes that I signed up for . . . 

. . . and tonight I am playing in my art journal

Yesterday my house was clean and pulled together and today there is stuff everywhere.

God how I love a creative mess!

Being home this past couple of weeks has made me realize that I am not quite ready to retire 

and that it also would be wonderful to retire.  

So for now . . . I am just trying to making the best of a unique situation. 

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

Sunny and WARM!

Participating in a walk/drive by birthday party

A husband who can make and fix about anything . . . with extra time on his hands.

That same husband . . . making and fixing things.

Praying

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

~ John 14:27

good things today . . .

 This has to be the sweetest cat we have ever had.  

He also is the only cat that I have had that seems to pose . . .

. . .  and wait until I am finished taking pictures of him.

I was going to throw this pair of jeans out since they had a hole in them, but they are the only pair of jeans that I have that I really like . . . so I am going to patch and play with them and see what I come up with.  I'm starting with stripes and an alien . . . LOL!

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

Walking

FaceTime with Avery & Tatum . . . I even got a smile out of Tatum

A quiet morning to myself

Timehop App . . . today's photos made me laugh

Doodling . . . Reading . . . Painting . . . 

PRAYING!

"I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. 

And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.

So don't be troubled or afraid."

~ John 14:27

made with love . . .

I was invited to be part of a doll giveaway on Instagram.

The theme is "floral fantasy".  I actually had a doll started that I could make work for that.  

That not only saved me some time as far as getting a doll finished by the deadline . . . 

but it also worked to get myself busy finishing a doll that I started awhile ago,

but had never finished.   (What that is all about - I don't know.)  

Anyway . . . I am glad I finally had the motivation to get her done.  

I think she has more of an Earth Day look to her . . . so I am working on the "floral fantasy" part.  

Either way . . . she will be part of the giveaway.

I will have complete pictures of her soon. 

feeling motivated . . .

Oh, hello week . . . let's do this!

Once again my time is getting spent doing things other than making dolls . . . but on a positive note I am heading back in that direction.  Sometimes life just gets in the way.  Sometimes I simply need to regroup and get organized again.  Sometimes I get doing other things.  (Lately I have been writing and that seems to have filled up my head and time more than enough.)  

Doll making is pulling me back in though . . .  and these dolls all need something.  It doesn't help that one of them was made for Halloween and another for Christmas . . . so with those holiday behind me I just set them aside.  Charlotte and I made the one with pink hair a couple of years ago . . . she also got set aside.  I guess I need to try to break that habit.

 I also don't like to start any new dolls without finishing any that I may have started . . . so let's see what happens this week.

Happy Monday!

Instagram Giveaway

 I am so excited to be part of this Halloween doll giveaway on Instagram.

Check it out!

Here's a closer look at the doll I made. 

 I had posted pictures of her earlier, but added a hat and a "Trick or Treat" bag.

I love making these little Halloween dolls . . . and can't wait to see where I ship this one off to.

Lil Rose Monster doll . . . . ready for Halloween

I finished another doll last night.  

This little monster doesn't have a name yet, but she is more than ready for Halloween.  

She will have a name soon . . . and be listed in my ETSY shop. 

A new little monster . . .

She started out with wearing a beanie . . . but ended up with a headband.  

She has feathers in her hair . . . a button on her butt . . . and lots of monster magic.

finally finished . . .

 I started these blankets ages ago . . . and finally got them finished.  I would work on them for awhile - then get doing something else . . . then get them out again and work on them for while.  I guess some projects are like that.  I think it took my daughter-in-law bringing her t-shirts over to finally get me moving to finish all three of them.  I think Jake has all of his baseball t-shirts somewhere also . . . so I may have to make another one.  :)  

It feels good to have them finished!  

 It dawned on me while I was making Kasey's quilt . . . that I probably watched her cheer all those years ago - when Jake's team played against her high school.  

 Some of these t-shirts are sort of old . . . especially on Luke's blanket. 

I think some of those he wore in Jr. High.

Such a simple way to re-purpose old t-shirts.   

Estelle . . .

 Here is a picture of Estelle . . . the little zombie doll that I made for the Zombie Doll Swap that I joined.  I can post her picture now that Val has received her.  This zombie swap motivated me to get back to making some dolls again.  That and the time of year . . . I have a couple doll bodies I need to finish putting together tonight.  I am not completely sure what I am going to do with them yet, but I am thinking a little witch . . . and of course another zombie.

 Here is Estelle after arriving in Louisiana with all her goodies . . . I know once she is in Val's pumpkin patch with her other zombie dolls she will feel right at home.  :)

It is fun for me to watch a little doll come together.  

Estelle is the sort of little zombie you don’t mind having around.  She’s a little quirky, and very friendly.  She tries to see the good in everyone she meets and is usually so busy making new friends that she doesn’t even think to bite them.  She loves to be silly . . . is happiest surrounded by the people she cares about . . .  and loves drinking wine out of pretty glasses.  But beware . . . she has a way of making you smile for no reason at all.

Dorothy . . . and Toto too!

This little costume has turned out to be a whole lot of fun.  

I can't wait until she wakes up from her nap and see this . . . . 

. . . Grandpa's idea. 

 I think Richard and I need to stay home on a Tuesday more often.  

sewing and skeletons . . .

 Charlotte/s Dorothy dress is all done . . . I'm just waiting on the red sparkly shoes, a basket, and Toto to arrive in the mail.  It is a little big for her . . . but I was hoping it was - so she could play with it longer.  She tried it on Saturday night and had to pretend that the kitchen floor was the Yellow Brick Road.  I really do need to make a Yellow Brick Road.  

I worked on some dolls this weekend . . . working on a zombie doll for this Zombie Doll Swap.

Charlotte found some of my little skeletons and pulled them out to play with.  The look on Richard's face was priceless when she started playing with them.  When I asked her what she was doing . . . she responded, "Playing with these dolls.  This one's name is Marie."  

This girl . . . she just makes life better!

having fun sewing again . . .

 

My little Dorothy dress is coming along.  The pattern called for blue rick rack.  I wasn't able to find the right color . . . but found this old trim in one of my stashes.  It worked perfect.  It is fun to be sewing something like this again.  Charlotte tells everyone "Amma is making the Dorothy and the Scarecrow . . . and later Grandma will make the Good Witch and the Tin Man."  I think Charlotte has figured out that Amma will do just about anything she asks me to do . . .
I really can't wait to see her dressed up like the Scarecrow.  She loves to dance like him and sing "If I only had a brain."  I should have the dress done in the next couple of days.
The Scarecrow should go a lot faster.
Great Grandma Dona suggested making a yellow brick road out of yellow butcher paper or yellow fabric . . . enough to run down the hallway or across the room.
You have to love Great Grandma Dona . . .
. . . Just follow the Yellow Brick Road!

This is how we play . . .

 I have always wanted to crochet with t-shirt yarn . . . so I started this rug with some old t-shirts left over after we tie dyed.  It is a little tough to work with, which I'm sure has something to do with how tight I crochet.  I think when I get it the size that I want . . . or when my hands just give out - I will get some more fabric dye and add some color.

 Luke started a painting.  Right now it is just a rough sketch . . . and he has started painting the background.  Hopefully he will get it finished soon . . .

Charlotte helping me make more bandanna pants.  

This little lady has to help "Amma" with everything!  

Things tend to take a little longer with her help . . . but it is way more fun!

I've got a little blonde voodoo doll started . . . I still have to decide what I want to do with her, but at least she now has a face.  I have some ideas - so will just have to see what comes together.  

At the end of the day,

 who you are is totally 

and completely up to you.