Copy-bat

So the other day I was browsing Flickr, when I came across the stinking cutest thing ever: Evil Emil the bat. 

Okay, I said, originality be danged--I have to make this. I wanted to make it for my niece who is turning one, but first I had to ask her mom if it was okay. I think some people might balk at the idea of their baby getting a bat for a present. But it's so cute! 

Strangely enough I had everything I needed already so I whipped it up lickety split and I love how it came out. I opted not to include the super-cute monocle and chain because really, that just seemed like a choking hazard for a baby. I'm still going to do the hand quilting on the wings this week. And I haven't decided if I'm going to put the snaps on the wings or not.

Isn't he the cutest?

vacation recovery

Howdy people. I know it's been ages since I posted, and that's mostly because we went on "vacation". I won't bore those of you who aren't interested in the comedy of errors that was our family camping trip, but needless to say it was rough and funny and disappointing. If you want to read about it, you can HERE.

On the drive up to Tennessee I was able to do some embroidery for a Christmas hoop garland I'm working on. Let me just say--embroidery is the best road trip pastime EVER. The time just flew by while I happily stitched and knotted. 

Since we got back we've been in recovery mode. Although I did manage to finish up my kid's costumes for Harvest Festival at our church. I have to say I'm super proud of their costumes this year. I'll be getting pics of those later today hopefully. I'm also working on a cute little stuffy for my niece's first birthday next week, pictures to follow once it's done!

Just didn't want anyone to think I was dead. I'm not. I'm very much undead. So you can relax now. Wipe away those tears and get happy!

xoxo,

The Undead.

Moldy oldies

Yesterday the clouds of my funkdom seemed to be parting, so I took full advantage. I sewed those X string blocks, made two pairs of pj's, started embroidering the center part of my Christmas pillow, and finished binding this atrocity:

I don't know how many of you remember when I first put this mug rug together ages ago, but this thing is, in my opinion, the absolute ugliest thing ever. I was so excited about those teeny tiny cross-stitched bits from Super Mario Bros., and then I went and ruined it with grosstastic pinks and maroons. Blech! Still, though, I felt like it needed to be done and possibly given to someone who doesn't share my disgust. Anyone? Ha.

Also, I just realized that I forgot to post about a few things that by now feel so last year. Ha ha ha. Like for example, some of the other glass fused thingies I brought back from class a few weeks ago. Now keep in mind I was entirely unenthusiastic about that class, and didn't want to spend loads of money on glass, so I really went out of my way to use up all, and I mean ALL the glass I bought initially. Which is why nearly everything I made is orange, white, turquoise, and green.

I made a buttload of pendants, figuring some of them could be Christmas presents. Unfortunately the women at the studio took in upon themselves to edit my firing instructions because, "We just didn't think you were going to like the way they looked."  !!!!  I tried as...diplomatically...as I am capable to explain that I knew exactly what I wanted and what it would look like and I didn't appreciate them taking it upon themselves to change that. ANYWAY, I still don't have 80% of the things I made because they all had to be re-fired. Ugh. I did, however, get this one back, and honestly I think it's my favorite of all the things I made.

 

I also realized that I forgot to blog about the lovely gift I received from Rachel of Stitched in Color as a thank-you for leading a do.Good Stitches circle this past year. For awhile now she'd been posting about all these fun, improv-pieced composition book covers she was making, and a little while back I was fortunate enough to receive one of them! Now, I LOVE comp books so this was perfect for me. Also, I got a sample pack of some Aurifill thread which I keep hearing about but had yet to try. It's all very exciting!

 

Anyway, that's all for today. Dosvidanya.

quit yer whinin', will ya?

Okay so I just realized that I posted two whiney posts in a row. Sorry about that, people! I'm resolving to be in a better mood. And I'm resolving not to blog when I have a migraine and my kids are sick and whiney. Ha. Lesson learned!

Today I realized that this month is flying by, and I needed to do my October blocks for do.Good Stitches. Laura is our quilter this month and she chose to do the X string block which, coincidentally, has been on my short list of blocks I really really wanted to try for the last two years. She asked for brights on a grey background, and here's what I came up with from the ole scrap bin.

Generally speaking I have not loved making string blocks. I thought this one would be the same but awesomely, it was really fun to do and I love the way it looks. This one is definitely going to stay on my "one day" list. (I won't even bother calling it a to-do list because honestly, it might never happen. :)

This month also marks the end of my leadership of the Comfort Circle for do.Good Stitches. It's very bittersweet for me to be stepping down--we've had a great year and I love what this group does for needy families. However, I was feeling way too overloaded and when the work you do out of love becomes a stressful duty it's time to step back and reorganize. I hope that sometime I'll be able to rejoin a circle when my schedule is less hectic. A big fat HUGE thank you to all my quilters and stitchers who have helped produce some truly beautiful quilts for others this year. Also, thank you to Rachel of Stitched in Color for being the most mulit-talented multi-tasker ever and organizing this amazing group of quilters.

Less pathetically than yesterday,

Jenn

jenny jenn and funky funk

Well, hi.

I am here to confess that I have been in severe funk lately. 

Nothing inspires me.

The sight of my sewing room makes me feel vaguel nauseated. 

Before, seeing pictures of people having a grand ole time at the Sewing Summit would have left me green with envy. But all I feel is a vague sense of, "Well isn't that nice for them."

In an effort to just, y'know, muscle through it, I decided today was going to be the day I finished my embroidery for Celebrate Color. I sat on the couch and stitched away, and at last it was done! The only thing was, I changed my mind about fifteen times as to what this was going to end up being. In the end I decided that I wanted it to stay a hoop, but with some improv piecing surrounding it.

Maybe it's just this funk, but I am not in love with the result. I can't even say why. It's just...meh. 

I do like the embroidery, though. And I really enjoyed the process of working on this. It was my first time working with some different stitches, and it was nice to sort of broaden my horizons in that area. 

One thing I know for sure: I should have gone with a grey background fabric. I am not a brown person but I guess I had it in my head that if there's no brown, it can't be fallish. Wrong. Wrong, wrong, WRONG. Gray is just me. Period. Regardless of season. I should have stuck to my guns but I let online peer pressure sway me. Never again.

Anyway, I've got my fingers crossed that this malaise leaves me soon, otherwise...(cue doomsday music)