Teaser!

Photo Inspiration on the project I hinted on the other day!! Can't wait to show you the end result! Enjoy this teaser for now! 1. Comfort, 2. Cold Process Felted soaps in Jasmine Scent/ Sorbet Sunset color palette by luckyloulou, 3. Felted Pebble Soap, 4. Felted Soap 096, 5. Felted Soap 092, 6. A Pile of Felted Soap Pebbles, 7. Polka Dot Felted Soap, 8. felted soap in bowl, 9. Highland Suds Felted Soap Pin It

Two Handfulls of Owls!

I have been stitching up a storm trying to get these ornaments done so I can get them in the mail! They are for the Cake & Pie Holiday Ornament Swap on Swap-Bot. I love how they turned out - I think they are too cute! I hope my partners love them as much as I do!

All lined up in a row!

Wrapped and ready to be put in their envelopes and in the mailbox!

I am so glad that I finally finished them! Now I can concentrate my evenings making my meal plan for Christmas!

It's that time of year when we all go searching for the perfect wrapping paper to match our Christmas decor. Or we try and think of some different ways to wrap instead of the basic santa wrapping paper and curly ribbon! I have been looking all over the web to find some creative ideas on how to wrap this year. Here are just a few of my favorites that I have found so far!

**If you need to learn to tie a bow more complicated than the one you tie on your shoe visit here.

** This idea is so cute and such a GREAT way to recycle all those extra grocery store bags!

**Of course Martha always has good ideas and I really like this one in particular!

**If you can't find that perfect patterned paper that you want for Martha's tags above - check these out - just print the one(s) you like and voila!

**Here is a link to a huge list of ideas! Check it out!

I hope this helps you get started on your wrapping and getting those gifts ready and under the tree!

Hooters and Creepy Dolls

I haven't 'blogged' for a while so I thought I'd just do a quick one with a couple of things I have been working on this week.

I am a part of the 'Ogling Owlies' swap on Swap-Bot. For this Swap you need to make one handmade Owl using your choice of materials. I did a little research and decided to do my little owl in felt! I LOVE the way he came out! I have decided to do these owls for another swap I am in - The Handmade Christmas Ornament Swap. I will need to make 10 to send off and in return I will receive 10 different ornaments from around the world! So fun!

I also tried making a "Dotee Doll' for a 'Dotee Doll Swap'. Here she is! I called her 'Paisley'. Jamie hates her - he thinks it is creepy! I think she is 'Ugly Cute'! My daughter wanted to join in the fun and has been making some of her own!

I included a 'Sunshine' knit dishcloth with this swap, I should have taken a picture before I rolled it up so you could see the design, silly me!

I also created this little felt pouch to house all these items in. I made a cute yo-yo flower out of the same material as my Dotee Doll to embellish the front...

and I used a simple black button for the back so it could be used for stuff in the future - like makeup, purse items, whatever she likes!

I have been pretty crazy busy trying to get all of these done! I have almost completed all of my 'hooters' and hope to get them in the mail on Monday! I will post a picture of them when I have them ready to go!

I received this tag from someone and decided to share it with my great friend Jenn V. She posted it on her blog and I thought I'd share mine with all of you! Enjoy!

1.Your Middle Name: Ji'Neille. My Mom actually made it up! The 'Ji' is after my Dad 'Jim' and the 'Neille' is after my Papa 'Neille'! I love it!

2. Age: 33

3. Single or Taken: Taken by a hot cop!

4. Favorite place to hang out: At home with my family.

5. Favorite pet/animal: Toby, my 1st dog who was my best friend, I miss him everday . Although I do love my dog now - Jasper!


6. Favorite Band/Artist: Nicole Nordeman Her music is so intelligent and inspiring. It is not fluff!

7. Favorite Movie: Anne of Green Gables. I know it word for word! Don't you ever wonder what Raspberry Cordial tastes like?

8. Tattoos and/or Piercings: Yes, I have piercing in my ears (1 in each!) and a flower vine tattoo on the top of my foot (near my toes). I got this tatoo at a 'girls getaway' in Kelowna with my girlfriend Mandy! We both got the same one - I don't regret it at all, it was really fun and was a good bonding experience!

HERE COMES THE FUN ... ... ...

9. Whats your philosophy on life: Celebrate the little things in life!

10. Tell me one odd/intresting fact about you: When I was in Grade 8, my best friend was Tammi I. She had this red sweatshirt that every time I went to her house I would wear - inside out. I LOVED this sweatshirt so much - it made me so happy for some reason. Well after about 1 year of borrowing it every time I was over - she said 'you can have it'. That was 20 years ago now - and I still have that sweatshirt! I wear it AT LEAST once a week with my Pj's! I still LOVE it and it still makes me happy! Thanks Tam!

11. What is the craziest thing you've ever done: Wow, I'll just say husband.....porta-potty.....Canada Day Celebration......

12. Ever been arrested/ gone to jail: Nope, but I go 'behind the scenes' all the time now!

13. Do you think I'm attractive: I think you are beautiful (inside and out)!

14. If you could change anything about me, what would it be: Your insecurities.

15. If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be: I read too much into things and it affects my relationships sometimes!

16. What do you wear to sleep: My husband...Ha Ha! No seriously I usually wear a t-shirt and flannel pj bottoms (sometimes with my fav red sweatshirt (still inside out) - see above) !

17. What is your favorite thing to do in the world: Besides being with my family, I would say travelling!

18. Would you go on a date with me if i asked you: For sure (I should ask Jamie 1st though!)

19. If I only had one day to live, what would we do together: We would meet up for coffee, have a good long chat, head to the states to go shopping, and then end the night at the movies watching 'Knocked Up' and killing ourselves laughing until we pee our pants!

I participated in my 1st swap a couple of days ago. I had so much fun! The rules were you had to purchase one roll of ribbon and 3 matching buttons! I decided to go with a Christmas theme so that my partner could use them during this season! My partner lives in Oregon and I can't wait to receive my goodies in the mail! Here's what I sent out:

The middle one is hard to see - it is a long-legged reindeer with a wreath around his neck! Too cute! I hope my partner enjoys them! I will post my parcel or goodies when it arrives!

Swaps

I have just discovered the online world of Swaps. I am sad to say that I am addicted!!! I think it is so fun to connect with others around the world that have the same interests and hobbies and to send them a little something from your heart - what can be better! I also LOVE to receive real mail - like actually something in the mailbox!

I have entered 4 swaps and I think I am limiting myself to those 4 for Nov and Dec. If I join anymore I will be running around like a chicken with my head cut off!

2 of the swaps are for new Christmas ornaments that you purchase and then mail to your assigned partner. 1 of the swaps is for a handmade 'Dotee Doll'. The other swap is for a handmade Christmas ornament - this one you have 8-10 partners that you have to make an ornament for - which means you receive 8-10 ornaments! I am SOOO excited!

I have been thinking about what to make for the handmade swap and I have narrowed it down to 2. I will let you know when I have decided!

Here are a couple of links that I have found that hooks you up to all different swaps - so check them out - and if you create one yourself - don't forget to invite me!

Swap Bot & Swap Dex

Special Day

So yesterday was my birthday....I woke up to freshly brewed coffee made by my 9 year old son, and peanut butter toast (my favorite) made by my 7 year old daughter! What a great way to wake up!

My husband had to work, but surprised me with some beautiful red roses that smell great, and 2 books that had been on my wish list for awhile! The books are: "Last Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts" by Joelle Hoverson & "Seams to Me" by Anna Maria Horner. They are beautiful books, with great pictures and really simple and creative patterns! I am so excited to start tackling them!

I had a great day going out for the day with my kids and then coming home to watch a movie with them. We watched "Kit Kitteredge - An American Girl" which was really sweet, even my 9 year old son thought it was great! I have the best kids ever. They are so thoughtful and wanted to make my day as special as it possibly could be!

By the way - I found my staple gun in the garage! But wouldn't you know it - I had no staples in it! So tomorrow I will make a run to the Home Depot and pick up some so I can actually finish my bench project.

I have a couple of other projects on the go right now as well. One is a knitted afghan for my adorable niece Charlotte. Now Charlotte just turned 2 years old at the end of September and I
started making her a blanket when she was born! Unfortunately my life has been full of craziness the last couple of years and knitting a blanket has been something I have not been able to focus on. But of course my sister (Charlotte's Mommy) is wondering where this 'baby blanket' is! So now that Charlotte is not a baby any more - I have decided to make her an afghan instead. I have found a pattern that I like that is pretty classic. What do you think of it?

So I have started that and it is going well. Hopefully I will complete it before she is married and I have to make her a wedding present! I'll let you know how it goes! :)

The other project I am working on is this cute knitted baby bunny. I have a few people in my life that are pregnant and I think this would be such a cute gift! Click HERE for the pattern.

I will post some pictures of my progress on these 2 projects soon!

How are you liking the Christmas theme I am going with? I LOVE Christmas as I'm sure you all do too! Make sure you play the Santa Game on the right side of the page - it is SO addicting!