While They Cooked...

i hope you all had a nice time off...we had a very peaceful christmas at grandpa's place...

a busy kitchen is fun to watch.  it reminds me of my childhood...

dash following grandpa...

my eggnog glass waiting for seconds...

someone watching the worst and the best of 2012 on cnn...

oh, here he is again in his happy worried look...

grandma using her grandma's recipe...

they didn't rise as much as they were supposed to, but they were still tasty...

grandpa's barbecued chicken...

grandpa and grandma cooking together...

sniff sniff...something smells good in the air...

the chicken was super moist...i love chicken so much better than turkey...

ate so much...appetizers and desserts are not shown here...

time to unwrap the presents.  dash went first...

dash lounging with his new buddy, mr. zebra...

of course, there were tons of homemade holiday sweets to take home...

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a Happy Merry Christmas! 

Note: Dash is not mad.  It's just that the collar that Grandma bought him last year makes him nrvous.

Sew & Tell

There are two little girls who are celebrating this Christmas safe and sound with their families...in these pretty smocks.  Emily's little girl in this festive red smock is one of the two.  Emily wasn't sure if she would wear it, but she loved it!  Who wouldn't?  Especially after her big brother's sweet praise.  The pattern is from a Japanese book.  She used the smallest size, but the length seems a little too short, so she will make it a little longer next time...

...and another lucky girl is Danice's friend's daughter.  It was a bit challenging for her since the class was the first time sewing in years.  But, she brought her right hand assistant and loving daughter, Charlotte, to the class.  Boy, Charlotte was a huge help!  It was so sweet to see the two work together.  They were the team!  Well, she didn't complete it in the class, but she did it at home.  The result is so lovely. 

You have seen Sue's cat skirt before.  This is one of her dog versions.  Yes, you guessed it right.  It's a French Bulldog.  Where is the Puggle version, Sue?  If you want to place an order, contact her at sweetsuesewing@gmail.com

Owl Ornament Kit

One of the holiday things I've been working on is this owl ornament kit.  I finally put it all together.  It took me quite a while.  By looking at these boxes, it seems so simple, but it took many steps and lots of attention to detail.  On the days I thought it would come all together, there was always something missing or that went wrong.  But, it is now all in one box.  Everything you need to create this ornament (besides sewing machine thread) is in the box.  It'll be a nice gift for a crafter for sure and it could be the very first needle and thread experience for your child.  With a little help from you or someone who knows how to sew, even a 5 or 6 years old can make this. 

Mother (or father) and daughter craft time together during the winter break?

Love, Laurel Boutique

Peapod's window is now shared with Laurel's adorable three girls.  Please meet Donna, Daphne, and Lucy.  From head to toe, they are very well constructed with many details.  Pigtail hair, dresses with a pocket, and maryjane shoes.

Lucy...

Tea party time...

The dogs, cats, monkeys, and girls, all get along on the window...

A Craft Night

I know life can be crazy around this time of the year for everyone, and so is mine.  But, still you have to make time to get together for a craft night.  After all, we are die-hard crafters.  This is how we "sewcialize."  So, a good friend and neighbor, Mary invited us for a girls' craft night.  Simple dinner with her hearty mushroom and barley soup, salad, bread, and wine were perfect for nothing but a casual relaxing craft night.  Her home is always so warm and inviting and full of holiday spirit.  We had such a good time and came to an agreement that we should do this more often.  A good thing is that we are all on the same block :-)

I love soup, and I love love love Mary's soup.  I am getting the recipe, yes!  Mary, I'm waiting...

We brought our own craft for others to try.  Lena showed us how to make her ribbon ornament, and I brought wool roving. 

My pink heart in progress...

Lena, working on her ribbon ornament...

Everyone worked on this toadstool needle book that Mary shared.  I finished it at home yesterday, yay!  I realized I never owned a needle book.  Now I do.

Holiday Needle Felting Workshop

Well, it's about wool roving again, but I can't help it.  They are so cute!  So by now you have seen those cute samples that Ryoko made on my last post.  Don't you want to learn how to make those?  I do.  Look at this mama owl and baby owl.  Darling!  So if you want to make them as a gift, here is your last chance before Christmas.  She is offering a class again this Saturday which is tomorrow.  Sorry, it's such a short notice.  So sign up fast.  It'll be fun!  The class costs only $25 (plus materials and tools).

Also, there is the boxed pouch class on Sunday, the 16th at 3:30pm.  Let me know if you want to sigh up.

Fuzzy Cozy Homey

Tins and Wool

Yes! I was finally able to upload a new cover photo on to my site. Well, I still have a few problems and need to do something about it, but I left it for now. It's just that my computer is getting old. So anyways, the new December cover shows six of my recent projects. As you know, I've been busy poking and rolling those beautiful wool roving. Here are  the results. It actually started with a mysterious non-identical pink shape. I was trying to make a heart with the fuchsia roving, but I gave up. Well, a good crafter never wastes anything, and it somehow became a diamond shape pincushion in a tiny tart tin. I got them when I first started baking in middle school, but I probably used them once.   After that they were collecting dust in my childhood home. So after many years, they came back to life as a sewing tool. Baking and sewing, two of my favorite things...they came together. Isn't that nice? 

They will be available for sale at the window.  And the needle felting workshop is happening on Friday.  You can make something like these, and more samples by Ryoko will be there. 

Monday

a new tea cup.  absolutely love the shape...

made by a local british lady at sharon art studio...

it fits perfectly in my palms...

rolling and poking...

busy at my studio...

Wool Roving

Wool roving is a new addition to Peapod.  They are 100% wool from New Zealand.  The colors are so bright and pretty, and they feel so soft.  I've been busy poking and rolling these things nowadays...