Many, many projects

Finally all the projects are done and given out, and I can show what I've been doing for the last few months. (almost all - there's actually still one to go) I'm really happy about how most of them came out. I'm also looking forward to getting back to finishing some others like a couple of quilts and afghans, etc. Here are many, many project pictures. I hope you have lots of time to look!

I made "a cat for all seasons" for Earleen. The grapevine wreath has a hook so the ornaments can be changed for the seasons. Here's spring

Summer
Fall
Winter This is a pin cushion and needle book for Cheryl.
A balsam pillow for Chris.
Balsam Christmas trees

a picture of the work in progress a wild Incan pillow for Raf a quilted pillow for Kim
This is the most ambitious project - a wall hanging made from a picture of Susie and Max's house in Maine. Here's the start. I kept walking around (while Susie was in the house) hoping to find a good angle for a picture. I wanted to show the gardens and the house and the lake. I got this one that had just about everything - I just had to remove the car. I put the photo into Word and added the grid lines.
Then I drew a larger version on a big piece of paper.
I photocopied that and cut the copy up into individual pieces to use for patterns for the fabrics.
I used iron-on stuff to arrange the pieces on the background.

Then I sewed each piece on, mostly with my sewing machine. I kept having to replace the needles - I don't think it liked the iron-on stuff. Then lots of embroidery. I think it turned out to be a picture of gardens with a house and trees in the background.

Here's a granny-square scarf I made for Sarah. I made a different one for Katie but I don't have a good picture of it. I'll have to work on that.

A cat knitting bag for Sarah

Some warm hats for Nathan and his brother

A felt-ball garland for Katie's living room

Susie can never resist trying on all the felted projects. This is the amazing felt basket Sarah made for me - what do you think? A little too big for a hat.

Susie's wild!Merry Christmas!

Cookie Factory Part II

Well it was a big job but we got it done. All the cookies are baked, decorated and divided up into tins. It was quite fun. We're having a raging blizzard outside but at least we didn't lose power this time (at least so far). We missed the other helpers though. Here are lots of pictures.

This kind has some cardamom in the dough and chocolate and pistachios decorating. They're called black and whites.

Here are the old stand-by cookies - beautiful frosted sugar cookies. Nathan and I painted and Sarah decorated.A few close-ups:


These Christmas trees have a little peppermint extract so they taste slightly minty.

This is an old favorite from Elmira - poppy seed cookies. They're really rich and buttery.

These are Sarah's favorite - buried cherry cookies. Lots of steps but really worth the effort.
The spoon fell in.
Super-good!
A sampler platter.

What's missing? Rugalach! :(

Cookie Factory Part I

It's been a really long time between postings again, but pretty soon I can start showing all the secret projects. Here's a not-so-secret project - cookies! Every year we have cookie weekend just before Christmas. We're having a little trouble with weather this year, but Sarah and Nathan are here helping with decorating. We're hoping Susie can come tomorrow, but I don't think Katie and Raf will make it to cookie weekend this year. :( We'll have to put some in the freezer for them. Here are some previews:

The gingerbread decorators were a little wild.
This is a special pac-man cookie Sarah made for Nathan. Here's a gingerbread bear.And the annual Christmas chicken.

Katie's favorite - pinwheels. I think Grandpa Jerry likes these too. His mother used to make them. Aren't they pretty?

We'll have more to show tomorrow. It's important to keep a record of these things - right?

In case you're wondering, we'll either be having a white Christmas or a major flood. We got about a foot of snow yesterday and more coming tomorrow. Happy winter!

Office Decorating Part 2

Here's Kim's cozy office. I think it looks great.

And Kristen's area - it looks like a workshop for elves.

It's that time again!

It's the annual Business Services office decorating contest. We've been doing this in our office for a few years now and some people are really into it. Others not so much, but everyone's been a good sport about it. Everybody wins a prize. I keep winning "Zingiest" for some reason. This year I have sort of a hand-made theme. I wonder if people will think it's zingy again. Here's how my office looks so far. Kind of cozy, don't you think?

I've been working on making these stars for awhile. They've been helping me sharpen up my embroidery skills.A jar full of lights - it looks really cool with the other lights off. Sarah's letting me borrow her trees for a little while. Aren't they sweet? They smell great.

I think the bear chair is the cutest.

I'll post some of the other offices soon - wait until you see Kim's. It's amazing!