Happy Birthday, Toby!

Tomorrow is a special day around here!  It's our Toby's birthday.  He will be 2.  It seems like he's been here forever and we don't know what we'd do without him now.  Often, (like really-really often), I think about getting him a sister or a brother, but then, when I think about the grooming, and expenses when they get older (and I'm not getting any younger myself, you realize), I think one is enough.  The other day, I pulled out some baby pictures:

That was him at 3-6 months and now my boy is almost two (and in need of a bath again...ugh).  I did snap this one this morning as he was trying to get my attention:

Such a sweet boy!!!  Happy Birthday, my honey boy!!

Then, since my Lady #44 and #45 are completed and flying home to their owners (and believe me, they both have F A R ways to travel) so I can't show you yet, you will have to be satisfied with another recent fun thing I've been doing.  (Please don't ask me why 'cause I have no clue.)  A while ago, as I was surfing, (and you know how you can get lost), I discovered a real fun blog.  You might have noticed that I added it to my blog list.  "Pushing the Envelope".  This lady decorates envelopes not only  professionally for events, weddings, etc., but also for fun.  It really brought back memories for me.  When my niece was teaching in Japan in 2000, I used to write to her every week and decorate the envelopes just for fun and to keep the Japanese postal deliverers happy.  I'm pretty sure I used decorative stamps then and colored them with colored pencils........it's too long ago to really remember.  Duh!!!  I thought for fun, and to celebrate the recent release of floral forever stamps, I'd send an envelope to Jean (the owner of the blog).  She doesn't know it yet and hasn't received it, I'm sure, so PLEASE don't tell.

I also did a fun one for my friend, Annie.....who you've heard of before.  She no longer lives where she belongs (in my humble opinion, you understand), so I have to write to her.  It's not only her birthday month in April, like my Toby, but I didn't think she knew that in my younger life, I was a ballerina of sorts and if I donned a tutu today, I would undoubtedly look exactly like this bird!!!  Except, I'm not that green......yet!  lol

So, that's all for today, folks!  Needless to say, I haven't sewn a stitch in days although I have been thinking about it.  Today, I have to color a big drawing I did for a friend.  It has been sitting around here for days and quite honestly, I'm afraid I'm going to mess it up so I haven't touched it.  Today is the day!  Hubby is gone until dinner time and it's quiet.  Wish me luck!

Have a fun week, my friends!!!  Oh......I did join another swap.  Pouches!  Can you believe?  Now that I finally conquered zippers, I'm all set!

Sounds like an instant replay.......

When I look back, it doesn't sound like this week will be much different from last week.  I mean, I did something for a swap, made some more "bleep girls" and finished two "ladies".  And this week, I need to start/finish two ladies (one is for a swap), hopefully draw a new design for my girl, and .........e-gads, I forgot already!!!  Oh well, my list is around here somewhere!!!  I'm telling you, the older I get, the more scattered brained I seem to be!!  OR....maybe it's just this darn cold Wisconsin winter we're having.  Perhaps the gas heat is finally getting to me!!  In any event, let me show you "last week".......

I'm so glad you like my "bleep girls".  I have really enjoyed making them, only I think I need to be done now.  Believe it or not, my new Copic markers are running out of ink and I have already had to purchase 5 refills for various colors and replacements for two since I couldn't get the refills fast enough. So, here is a photo of the last batch for awhile.  They're still for sale at $10 USD for US residents so grab them while you can.



Then, I have added two ladies to the mix and I'd like to introduce you.  First off we have Lady #42, Justyna.  She is a very pretty, young art teacher from the US and wanted me to do something with her art rather than sewing.  (Nothing like a challenge, I say!!)  It sort of reminded me of the "cupcake" teacher, if you remember.  As normal, first I will show the drawing, then the eyes and finally, the finished likeness.  Justyna asked that I not show the photo that I worked from so I naturally will respect her wishes.







Next we have Lady #43, Stephanie.  Stephanie was a fun lady to work with.  She actually sent me her picture and information before I even had a chance to discuss things with her, she was so excited.  Good thing I was making ladies, huh?  Just wait until you see her.  She sent a photo of herself with her likeness and they are really a match.............pay attention!









Did you check out her earrings????  Too funny!

I think I will forego posting the drawing and eyes in the future.  After all, drawings are drawings and eyes are eyes.....we all have them and you probably have seen enough after 43 sets.  lol It's the finished product that's fun anyway!

Lastly, I must show you the 11x16 inch quilt I did for the Fab Little Quilt Swap for my partner.  I call it, "Where's Waldo"?



Here he is:



So friends, that's it!  Like I said, this week should be a repeat of last week, except you probably won't see #44 and #45 ladies for some time.  Both live in crazy far away places and it will take forever for them to receive themselves, so you must wait too for the big reveal.  Have a great week, my friends and so something fun!!

Ladies and Girls

Today I must introduce you to Lady #40 and Lady #41.  Both of them live in the US and I am thrilled to finally do some US ladies lately.  There for awhile, I was filling out international custom forms like a wild woman and my postal clerks would cringe every time I stepped in the door.  (Not that I minded it, mind you! I must admit that the US ladies are much better for my blood pressure because they arrive in record time and I don't have to worry as long about them getting lost.  lol)

First, we have lovely Lady #40, Charlotte:

And here is the real Charlotte in the flesh:

Next we have Lady #41, Sandi.  (Not to be confused with Lady #14 who was also Sandy...but spelled differently!  (Crazy how I can keep all these lovely ladies straight, huh?  In all honesty, I'm wondering that myself!!!  lol)

And below is the photo she sent for me to use with her sweet DH by her side.

Lastly, we again have "the girls"........or as they have more commonly been called lately, "Bleep Girls".    These have become quite a hit and as you can see, I have several more in various states of completion.   All of these are 5x7" and ready for framing.  I draw and color each separately so while you are getting something that appears alike, they are each one of a kind.  I am charging $10 (shipping included to the US and $3 dollars extra for shipping internationally.)  If you are interested, let me know.  My e-mail information is on my side bar.  I take Paypal and checks from the US.  I promise, you will smile every time you see her!!!

So, that's about it!  This week I will be working on Lady #42 and Lady #43 and hopefully making a new design for my little girl........(a bit less crude perhaps?)  Have a lovely week!!!

My "Copic" Markers

These past few weeks, I have gone a different direction.  While I do love to sew, especially my "ladies", I really love to draw.  Perhaps that is what makes the ladies so enduring.  I have to draw them first and then try to get them to look like themselves.  Lately, I have been hearing more and more about Copic markers.  I remembered that I did use them a few years back when I made and designed our Christmas cards for that year, but what I remembered was that they were really expensive.  Since I had a lull in my normal sewing activities, I decided to investigate.  (After all, I'm not getting any younger and I DO like to play!!!)  

I took a trip to Michaels, picked up a few Copics, along with some Bristol heavy art paper and went to town.  I thought cards might be nice.  What I didn't realize is that since the Copic markers are alcohol based, they bleed through the back of the card stock.  Change of plans.......mount the finished drawings on colored card stock or frame them!  AND........get bigger envelopes!  lol

I thought you might like to see some early endeavors.  Remember that you can click on any of them to see it bigger:

BUT.......the best one was this last one!  I made and sent this to my dear friend, Annie in California, who has several issues to deal with at the moment.  I thought that since she is such a "lady" that she might need a small card of some type to whip out of her pocket and flash at specific moments as needed.  If you remember, she was the one who sent me that awesome envelope from my last post.  Besides, I knew she would laugh every time she looked at it:

I had no idea it would become such a hit!  Since sending this to Annie, I have duplicated this little "Beep Girl" twice already in a 5x7" size for frames and have given them as gifts.  Now, I'm thinking she might be a little business in herself!  The recipients couldn't stop laughing!  Stay tuned.......you might see her lots!  In fact, if you are interested in obtaining your own little "Beep Girl", let me know.  I've already started drawing and coloring with my Copics like a mad woman!!  Soooo fun!  Are you laughing too?  I bet, huh?

I must have been sleeping.....

Holy cow!  Get yourself into something new and where does the time go?  It seems as through the days have just flown by lately and here it is, a whole week since I've posted.  More on that in a bit....

I'm sad to say that none of my kid's dresses were gobbled up and sold.  Who knows what I'm going to do with them now?  I should take a picture of the whole closet and show you how many are in there.  Perhaps next time!

Today, we're going in several directions (due to my lack in sewing much at all these past two weeks).  Truthfully, I found a pin in Toby's beard one day and it has scared me to death ever since.  I love that little dog to death and if I were responsible for something happening to him, I don't know if I could forgive myself!  The funny thing is that I don't use pins much so I have no idea how one got on the floor to start with.  Thankfully, he didn't eat it.........but I'm so afraid that it might happen again.  You must see him.  Hubby and I groomed him this past weekend.........he was overdue by a week.  Check out how hairy he was:

Kinda reminds you of cousin "IT", huh?  Well, he looked much cuter when he was all done and back upstairs.  I'm so glad that I'm still able to groom my own dogs.  It sure has saved a ton of $$ all these years.

I am in a swap again....(big surprise)......so made a little off beat quilt to confuse my partner.  This isn't what I am going to send her, since I don't think it's her style at all, but I threw it out there to see what everyone would think.  I named it, "Secrets at Midnight".  It's 12 x 17".  Personally, I love it!

And a little closeup:

Nothing like a bit of color, huh?  Too fun!

Yesterday, I received a marvelous envelope from my super talented friend who moved to California before her time!  We had just met (here in Wisconsin) where she lived for years....until she moved to care for her aging parents a little over two years ago.  It seems impossible it's been that long already!  (Lucky girl does avoid our crummy winters now though...!!!)  I'm going to try to steal her photo from her Flickrstream........aaahhhh.....poop!  I just discovered that she has not allowed sharing.  Phooey!  Let me link you to her Flickr.  Look for the envelope with my name....Carol!  It's so amazing!  

I sent her something too, but I will show you next time.  For now, suffice to say that I have been busy in a different vein other than sewing.  Somehow or another, I got "roped" into buying Copic markers lately.  Too much surfing the net, I think.  Anyway, I used these markers years ago when I was making Christmas cards to send every year and thought that buying a few more might be fun again.  Well, one thing led to another and look what happened:

Yes, I am running out of room!  I must find a different system of storage......but at least right now, I have no more room for more and perhaps that is a good thing!  I LOVE these markers and I have been having such fun drawing and coloring my own designs.  I started with a Zentangle that I had made a few years ago as you will see below, but I have since branched out and I will show you those next time.  I have so many done, I must organize them first.  Stay tuned.......



So....until next time........happy sewing, drawing, baking, cooking....or whatever your pleasure!