I have got a couple of things made these past few weeks

It has been a busy couple of weeks here at the homestead so not a lot of crafting done but I have managed a couple of small things.

I have talked about the past few weeks in my one day to the next blog in more detail but this is my making things blog so I keep it for just that.

fromonedaytothenextone.blogspot.com

Finally, I am working on the penultimate granny square to make to complete my blanket, the next part will be to join them all up and I am open to suggestions on how to do that please? I now have quite a large bag full of the squares so it will be a good sized blanket.

I also finished the three leather key rings I had experimented with using my Sizzix machine to emboss the pattern on rather than stamp a pattern on them.  It was easier to do it that way but I also enjoy doing the stamping.  I stained them then gum tragged the backs and edges and attached the rings, so they are completely done now. I conditioned the leather so they should last a long time.

I sewed one of the Christmas tree ornaments, a snowman.

I enjoy making these, I can do it watching TV.

I have also done some repair work on my husband's work pants as he had worn out the knee on one pair and wanted an extra pocket sewn onto them for his cell phone so I got a little time on my sewing machine.

I did buy some fabric to make our newest grand daughter a dress for her 1st birthday.  It is next week but no rush to make it for then as we will be seeing them early July and can hand it over then. It is plain yellow seersucker and I found some contrast fabric in my stash to use for the pocket and straps just to break the plainness.

So that's been my making things endeavors this past few weeks.

Last night I noticed I had made a mistake on the penultimate granny square so I had to unravel it a bit, I redid it and I had made another mistake.  I undid it again and have left it for tonight when I hope to have more luck!  One more after that and then it will be join up time.

I started this blog on Thursday, it's now Saturday, that's how things are around here lately.

Have a great weekend everyone.

I won a giveaway!

Just a quick post as I am off to bed as we have a long day tomorrow going to the VA hospital in Columbia.

I have never entered a giveaway before so I am so excited to have won.

It was for several fat quarters of really pretty fabric.

Will update blog in a couple of days.  Have been busy here mowing etc. and giving moral support to my husband who is working on quite a big project.  Have done a little crafting though in between.

Goodnight folks.

Not much crafting done this past couple of weeks but I did find a treasure at a local Swap Meet

My husband, up until yesterday, has been feeling much better so we have tried to get as many things done as we can in the shop and outside while he is able so not much crafting done these past couple of weeks.

I did, however, find this book and set of patterns at a Swap Meet about 20 miles away last Saturday.

The book is in excellent condition and the patterns are all there and have never been used.  The book and pattern set were released in 1963 so over 50 years old but they have a wealth of history and sewing knowledge.  I have been reading in the evenings instead of crocheting.  I paid $5 for them which was probably too much but they are well worth it in my mind.

This afternoon I did get round to cutting out 12 felt Christmas tree ornaments on my Sizzix machine. It felt good to get that done, now they are ready to sew when ever I have the time.

The Lowes lady's screws worked like a charm

Just popping in to say that the screws that the Lowes lady found for me were perfect and my ribber is now re-attached to my knitting machine.

I didn't test it out yet as ribbers are known to be very temperamental and I didn't have the time to get embroiled in it.

I have the bulky machine to clean and oil next and my lace carriages then they will all be good to go for another year.

Will do my sewing machines also.

I have realised that I do most of my machine making of things in the summer when it is too hot to be outside and the house is nice and cool with the air conditioning so now is a good time to get them all ready to go.

A couple of small projects completed

Yesterday while the Nascar race was on I made another Santa head Christmas ornament.  I didn't have any filler downstairs so I finished it off this morning and put the ribbon on it.  This time I placed his face differently and made him the other way round to the first one.

The one on the right is the latest one

This afternoon I finished the wristband for my husband.  It just needed the snap putting on but it wasn't as easy as it sounds!  The safety snaps I planned to use were very difficult to use plus the posts for them were not really long enough for the thickness of the leather.  After a couple of doing and undoing them one of the sides fell out because of the short post.

So, I had some other snaps that had longer posts.  I thought maybe I could use these posts to secure the safety ones but they were not thick enough so it just has a regular Line 24 snap on it now.  I hope he remembers to take it off before he mows because he lost the last two that way when they get caught on the low branches when mowing round the trees.

So only small projects getting done right now but better than nothing at all.

A trip to our two favourite leather stores

We had to go to Springfield, about 90 miles away on Thursday to pick up supplies for the yard so took in our leather shops while we were there.

One is an independently owned store, Springfield Leather, but very well known throughout the country and the other is Tandy.  Very different stores though as the independent one carries a much bigger variety of supplies and tends to be a bit disorganised and Tandy is very organised but does not have the same ambiance.

I needed to know how to attach some safety snaps we had bought last year and the owner himself of the independent store came out to show us how to do it.  I picked up a double headed stylus, a hole punch, hand sewing leather thread, some needles and we got some leather and buckles for belts and some more leather dye.

In Tandy, we found the type of buckle JET really likes, it was the last one and they will not be getting any more. They also had some new stamps in so I picked up one of those and a discontinued one that was really discounted.

I was really happy with our purchases and we didn't spend anywhere as much as we usually do. Probably because the cost of the chemicals we had to purchase for the land put a big dent in our finances.

The wristband I am making for my husband is almost finished, I did make a mistakes punching the holes for the stitching but as I was using up a practice piece of leather and the mistake isn't too obvious, it will OK. The leather is a piece I ran through the Sizzix machine using a texture plate. It dyed up really nicely so I thought I would make use of it rather than just put it away with my practice pieces. I also lined it with pig skin leather to make is softer for him to wear. Will put in the snap later today when it warms up a bit.

The tool for making slits for the stitches slipped when I hit it with the mallet so I got a dogleg in the stitches!

Was definitely off form when making the stitch holes but it had been awhile and I was trying to do it quickly

I also got up to my sewing room in the week to do some maintenance on my knitting machines.  That was a bit of a disaster as I decided to re-attach my ribber.  Well, the little specialised nuts and bolts that keep it in place just wouldn't line up.  I tried and I tried but I couldn't get the bolt in on one side. I thought that a longer bolt might do it as the one I had just didn't seem to reaching enough to pick up the thread on the nut.

I took it with me to Lowes and the lady there was able to ascertain it's exact thread size and come up with some slightly longer ones. She took it away to size it, she must have some neat little gizmo that sizes them because it was spot on and it is an unusual size used in foreign machinery.  Yep, my knitting machines were made in Japan! Hoping to get up to them again in the next few days to try again.

We have been doing a lot of outside stuff lately and it has taken a toll on my husband so we are planning a relaxing weekend ready to start all over again on Monday.  Maybe I will get a Christmas tree ornament made or another couple of granny squares for our blanket.  Only five more to make and I will sew it all up.  It should be about 7' x 7' when it is washed as my crochet usually stretches a bit with washing.  If it needs more after that then I will make more.

So I did get some craft things done this week and hopefully some more this weekend.

The texturing worked great on the leather

I got to try out some of my new Sizzix stuff yesterday.

The texture starter kit is amazing.  It does such a great job of texturing cardstock and leather.

I tried it on some old, never to be sent out, Christmas cards first.  It transformed them from cheapie cards to  much better quality ones which could be used in a pinch.

I was keen to try it on leather.  I got a piece of scrap strapping and three keyfob blanks to try it on.

Using the platform it was too thick to go through with the leather and it was too thin without it.  So, I improvised and used three two spare embossing plates I had bought at Christmas and a cutting plate to make a platform.  Then I put my texture sandwich on that and it fed through perfectly.

I was really happy with the results.

The leather texturing is great

The snowman die I will use for cards and my felt Christmas ornaments.  It came with an embossing folder that fits exactly to the cut out.

I tried the frame BigZ die, the labels original die and the dragonfly Sizzlet die.  I can make labels from old Christmas cards that I have kept.  I keep them for years so have quite a lot and I can use them for making die cuts for the cards I plan to make.

I didn't try all the embossing folders as I know how they work and can tell how they will come out.

You can see a bit of one of the cardstock texturing top right on the above photo.  The starter kit comes with six texture plates and one solid plate and a rubber mat to make the sandwich with.  An absolute bargain at $4.

I had a fun couple of hours trying it all out. It is always good to have something to do while the Nascar race is on.

My Leap Year Day Sizzix bargain stash arrived

This is all the stash I got from the Sizzix sale.  All for the grand total of $22.60

I am on cloud number nine.

Two posts in one day, that has to be a record for me!

I made a Santa head felt Christmas tree decoration on Sunday while we watched Nascar.

I sewed it together like I thought it should be but it didn't look quite right.  When I looked at the die packet again I could see what I did wrong.  I sewed the face part on a bit off kilter. I am not going to undo it, that one can be for us.  I have another all ready cut out so I will try again and hopefully get it right.

In the Sizzix order I did today (see previous blog) I am getting a different snowman BigZ die which will be a little simpler to make.  It doesn't have the arms and the body and head are all one piece. I am still buzzing about getting all that Sizzix stuff at such a bargain price.  I checked the prices on Amazon and I would have paid well over $100 to get the exact same things even with the Prime free shipping and Amazon prices are usually a bit cheaper than buying direct from Sizzix.  It was hard not to buy more but the whole point was it was such a lot for so little money. I can't wait for it all to arrive.

And if you do not read Boris's blog here are a couple of current photos of Maggie and Boris

Sizzix Leap Year Sale

I don't know if this is the case in the UK but here in the US Sizzix has a one day sale on for February 29th.

I am so happy, happy, happy.

I just ordered $124 worth of stuff for $22.60

Off course I had to pay shipping of $11.14 but I am getting a load of items.

2 x Sizzix BigZ dies
1 x Sizzix Original die
1 x TextureZ starter kit
1 x Sizzlets die
2 x sets of Christmas embossing folders
2 x sets of other embossing folders

Yep all the above for $22.60 plus shipping

Here is the site if anyone is interested

Sizzix One day leap Year sale

I am planning on making cards this year so the embossing folders will be great and the texture plates will be good to use on my leatherwork (I hope).

I did try embossing leather and it worked OK but it was a bit thick to go through the rollers plus the folders prevented doing it continuously (for a belt for example).

I think the texture plates might work and if they do not I will have them for the cards.

Maggie got to experience the sewing room

I had a mundane sewing job to do.  I had bought some workshop rags for my husband but they were bigger than the ones we usually buy.  They are made of cheapie terry towelling.  So I cut them in half then needed to turn down the cut edges.

Boris is used to the sewing room, he loves to come upstairs and lollygag while I am knitting or sewing.  It was Maggie's first time though.

I wasn't sure how she'd be.  The dogs and I went upstairs and I shut the two doors in there so she couldn't wander off.  She walked around what little empty floor space there is and had a good nose and sniff at everything.  She did try scraping the carpet which is in really bad shape because Boris has already done his share of scraping on it. Their claws catch the loop pile and pull on them and we get like a shag pile!!!!!

Eventually though she copied Boris and laid down and had a nap while I did my bit of sewing.

So, in my opinion, it was a success.

Maybe now I will get some more knitting and sewing machine time.

Yeah for me!

Few and far between......

My crafty accomplishments are few and far between lately.  I did get another felt Christmas decoration made, that makes four now and I did get another granny square made.

Not much for a couple of weeks but better than nothing at all.

made this one using odd felt shapes from when I did the cut outs on the Sizzix for the ornaments. Colours look washed out in this picture but in reality they are quite bright and cheery.

This morning I did do a little leatherwork.  I stamped out a key ring for my husband's neurologist who does such a great job of treating and managing his illness.  Without his help my husband would likely be bed ridden by now. He has an appointment next Tuesday to see him so will give it to him then. My husband stained it then I gumtraged the back and edges and put the eyelet in for the ring to go through.

A two minute quickie sewing job

My husband wanted a piece of felt to lay his Damascus steel knife on in his cabinet in his office.  (A long story behind all this which I will recant on my new blog).

My sewing room is all set up to go so it wasn't a problem to get a piece of the felt I bought to use on my Sizzix machine, fold it in half and fancy stitch around it on my new sewing machine. No prep to do so it was a two minute quickie sewing job.

When I turned it I forgot to pull it through at the beginning and it got a bit of overstitching but as it will reside inside the cabinet I didn't spend the time to undo it and re do it.

I have found that this new sewing machine doesn't feed the fabric quite as well as my older Singer but I forget that sometimes especially when I haven't used it for a while.

I started another blog today

As I haven't been crafting much these past couple of weeks I started another blog so I can ramble on about anything and everything and not bore the pants off anyone who reads this blog for the craft content.

I will still be posting on here when I make things and I will always be making something even if it just granny squares for the ever growing blanket.

I had been getting a little despondent about not being able to craft as much as I would like and realised, after hearing about a friend whose wife died recently at only 55 years, that I need to be more positive and grateful. Plus I like to ramble on about things!

It is another blogspot blog.

fromonedaytothenextone.blogspot.com

Not much crafting this past fortnight (two weeks for my American and Canadian friends)

My husband has had a bit of a surge in energy.  This happens sometimes about a month after the chemo infusion and he feels better and so tries to catch up on all the things he hasn't been able to do. But he sometimes does more harm than good because his muscles and nerves react and then he is rendered exhausted and hardly able to move. During the current energy surge we have been trying to re-organise our home a bit. We have moved furniture around and he made some drawer organisers out of cedar.  His office is now so much more tidy and looks lovely.

He forgets that I am a plodder.  He goes all gun-ho when his energy surges and I can't keep up with him.  Today he is wiped out but I am still plodding on.

Between us though we keep going and do get some things done.

Maggie turns six months tomorrow (26 weeks). She is growing into a magnificent American bulldog. She is such a loving and playful dog, she has us wound round her little paw!  Well big paw actually but you know what I mean.

This was taken yesterday

Off to get some yarn from my sewing room so I can do some crochet while the Superbowl is on.

A bag full of bling, a Christmas tree ornament and the lace carriage arrived

One of the new Sizzix dies I got last week was a Christmas tree.  I cut a couple out ready to make last week.

When I was shopping in Walmart I found a bag of bling for $3 in the craft section. It filled a pound size plastic tub. It was just what I needed for Christmas tree ornaments to sew on my Christmas trees.

Yesterday I sat and sewed some bling on both sides of the tree then sewed it up and put a little filling in it to plump it out.

All shapes, colours and sizes.

One side of tree

Other side

The bling is great, so many different shapes and very sparkly.  I love sparkly!  The pictures do not really do it justice.

I really like the Christmas tree die, it is simple to sew up.

On a different not, the lace carriage arrived last week.  It does look very similar to the LC2 so I am hoping it will work on my SK700 knitting machine.  Hoping to get up tomorrow to try it. Will post on that after I do.

My knitting/sewing room is a mess right now.  My daughter got me on a mission to find photos of her when she was little.  My old photos are all stashed in a closet in my room underneath a lot of other stuff.  Hence the mess.  Considering I have lived in England, Canada and now the US these photos have done a lot of travelling.  Unfortunately some have not fared too well and going through them all is very time consuming.

Quite a lot to write about today. Some knitting news, some Sizzix news and a Maggie photo.

First of all I am getting a different lace carriage for my knitting machine.  A lady from the Facebook knitting group was closing her business and had a couple she was willing to give away if collected or the mailing costs paid for.

Well, I answered and said I would really like to have one, not really expecting to hear anything, but she did reply.  She calculated the packing, shipping and insurance costs and I paid her through Paypal.  She seems to be genuine as she has a website which has been up for a while and it also confirms she is closing down her yarn and knitting machine business.  A lot of trouble for a hoax and to extort a few dollars for shipping so I believe she will send it. It should be here next week sometime. I really have no idea as to it's condition, I didn't really like to ask too much as she was giving it away.  I don't know if it has the weights or lace cards or if it even works.   So unlike me really to get into anything like this, I am usually very vigilant.  If it doesn't arrive or is a hunk of junk I will know not to jump in next time someone is giving something away. It is an LC 360/260.  She says it will work on my SK700.  I thought only an LC2 would work on it but she told me that they were the same, just branded differently.  I guess I'll find out next week.

I finished a snowman Christmas tree ornament made from the felt I cut out on the Sizzix Big Shot machine.

Today, I was craving a good old English Sunday dinner so we had roast pork, roasties, stuffing, greens and gravy.  We both enjoyed it very much.  It has been a long time since I made roasties as mashed potatoes are the norm around here.

I also bought a couple of things for my Sizzix machine.  A Sizzix BigZ Christmas tree die which has bonus textured impressions (whatever that means!)  I thought initially it was an embossing folder but not sure now I look at it again.  Also I ordered a couple of Sizzix embossing folders which have a bonus sizzlets gingerbread die with them.  All on sale and I used the remainder of a gift card we received for a Christmas gift.

Now I will have four different dies to make Christmas tree ornaments.  A gingerbread man, a Santa head, the snowman and a Christmas tree.  That will be enough.  I will also have several Christmas embossing folders for card making so plenty to keep me busy all year on that hobby.

Maggie is doing great, she will be 23 weeks old tomorrow.

The bits all over the rug are the remnants of the little treasures she brings in with her every time she goes outside (which is a lot)! She will pick up a twig after she has done her business and hi tail it for the house at full speed.  Sometimes Edward can bribe her to trade for a treat but more often than not she just runs into the living room and chews it to bits. She has tons of chew toys and bones but she just loves to chew up the twigs.

Well Boris is hovering around me so I guess he wants to get on the computer and update his blog so I had better let him.

Will update on the lace carriage when it arrives.

My first gingerbread man

Well, I have made one gingerbread man.  I plan to make several felt Christmas tree decorations this year to give to family.  A little keepsake.  We have some that my husband's Mum made that we put on the bigger tree.  We only had a very small tree this year because of the puppy, Maggie.  Next year she should be OK with the big one and hopefully not want to play with it.

Who couldn't forgive sweet Maggie anything?

I will keep this gingerbread man for ourselves, it was a trial run.  All hand sewed.  If I go into mass production I may utilise my sewing machine. I think that I could do some fancy stitching across the arms and legs as opposed to sewing on bric a brac which frayed at the edges a lot. It also does a stitch that resembles blanket stitch I can use to sew it together.

Also, I need to work on faces. I need to check out Dawn's blog who did some cute faces on some angels she made.

 

I was going to buy some ribbon next time we were in town but I wanted to finish it so went with some red lace from my sewing stash for the loop and the scarf.

Still working on granny squares for our blanket.  Nearly have 25 made which will make a 5' x 5' blanket.  I want it to be quite a bit bigger than that though. I make enough each round to increase it by a foot.  I may have to change some colours on the next round as I know I do not have enough of each of the colours to make it all the same.

Have the itch to get going on my knitting machines again.  At the very least I need to clean and service them.

The first of three trips this month to Columbia tomorrow for the hospital appointments for my husband. Neurologist tomorrow, heart doctor, podiatrist and primary care doctor later in the month.

Off to refill the bird feeder which I had been neglecting until now, (along with a lot of other things since Maggie arrived).  The birds were certainly happy to see it go back up.

Woody Woodpecker is one of our most frequent visitors to the feeder.  The smaller birds are not intimidated by him though.

I did get to play!

I did find some time yesterday to play with my new Big Shot machine. I have realised that things like this and my sewing and knitting machines are actually my toys and using them is my playtime.

I know they are functional and make useful things but the truth of the matter is I really enjoy using them.  Sometimes, when I only have a few moments I will get some scrap fabric and sew, trying out the different stitches.  Using my machines is pure enjoyment for me.  So, that's why I have deemed them to be toys.  I guess I am still a kid at heart even though when I look in the mirror I see otherwise!

So yesterday, I tried doing embossing and cutting out.

I have some Christmas cards that I will never send so they were perfect to try the embossing on and make cut outs from.

I even progressed to felt and cut out my first gingerbread man ready to sew.

When I first tried it I misunderstood the instructions, I thought that you placed the 'sandwich' in between the flaps.  So I placed it on the third section then folded the flaps back over.  Needless to say it wouldn't go through the roller.  A quick search on Youtube pointed out the error of my ways.  The big dies do not go on the removable platform either.  I sussed it eventually.

I opted for the plain white one as when we purchased it, it was on sale.  I really liked the pretty ones but this one apparently is the latest model.

Embossing, my husband and I both agreed that the snowmen looked better from the back.

The gingerbread man came with a Merry Christmas cut out as a bonus!

My felt gingerbread man

The machine in all it's glory

I have a couple of other dies I haven't tried yet, a snowman and a Santa head.  One step at a time.

Now I am on the look out for some dies for shapes like squares and circles.  Will wait for them to come on sale, I have plenty to be working on right now.

I really love this machine.

Merry Christmas to me!

It's the 27th already and maybe, just maybe, I will get to play with my new prezzie today!

It's been a hectic couple of days, Christmas day was busy with opening presents and playing with the dogs with the new toys and going to our neighbours.  The dogs didn't fare too well from the ham bones we bought them.  Boris was sick and Maggie got the poops.  So lot's of cleaning up after Boris and running outside with Maggie.  They both seem Ok now thankfully.

To make matters worse, we got a puncture Christmas Day.  We were at the neighbours when one of them came and asked if we knew our tyre was flat.  It was OK when we left the house because my husband always checks the tyres when we go anywhere.  The neighbours are only half a mile away so we must have got it between ours and theirs.

They pumped it up for us and we got home with it after a very enjoyable afternoon at their place.

Yesterday, I was able to drive it into town to get it looked at. We had to replace it, the tyre wall was damaged.  They tyre bay was heaving, it was like everyone from miles around needed their tyres fixing, so that took quite a while.

We also sat and watched the final Hobbit movie, that was very enjoyable and the Dr Who Christmas special.

So one way or another I never got to try out my new Big Shot machine.

But today is the day!

Pictures will be added when I have it up and running and tried it.

'Tis the Night before Christmas.......

Christmas is just about here.  I love Christmas time, always have.  I think it stems from Happy childhood memories.  My husband really isn't into it much but he goes along with it for me.  It took a while for me to get into the spirit this year.  In fact, until yesterday. Oh I did all the things, sent cards, put up the tree, bought the presents and wrapped them, bought the usual Christmas food extras (except for dinner as we are going to have dinner at our neighbour's house). Nothing seemed to work. But yesterday, when driving to town, Maggie and I listened to Christmas music on Sirius and all of a sudden it hit me. Yeah for me!

To continue in the spirit today I am ecstatic. I tried to make fudge three days ago, using my Mum's recipe.....it didn't work, it wouldn't set.  I put it all back in the pan and boiled it some more and more and more.  I put it into pans and put some pecans on the top, at this stage it was going to be hard toffee and not fudge but I thought at least with the nuts in it would be pecan brittle.  Well, again it didn't set.  All I got was sticky toffee.  I covered it in cling film and let it sit until today.  I needed the pans for shortbread.

What to do with the gooey mess?????

Bin it or try and resurrect it?????

Nothing ventured, nothing gained as they say. So I put it all back in a pan with the nuts in and slowly heated it up.  Now I wasn't sure how the nuts would take to being boiled so I started picking them out and putting them on a plate.  Lo and behold they started to set like fudge.  Joy oh joy! And it is delicious.  Not sure what happened as it didn't get to boiling point, it just all melted then started setting correctly.  Must be that Christmas spirit at work!

So now I have a dish of pecan fudge cooling.

Shortbread next to make. Butter is softening as we speak.

I will take some of both to our neighbours.  They always do a huge spread and there's always way too much, but I will take it anyway.  They will get round to it eventually.

I am already planning for next year as I will have my die cutting machine tomorrow and I will be itching to make something.

I hope to more productive next year with my crafting.  Maggie is settling down a lot and doesn't need the constant supervision she did.  She will be 20 weeks this coming Monday. I have still been making granny squares for our blanket so the last few months haven't been a total bust.

I have made some great blogging friends this year and they have inspired me more than they can ever know.

So, I wish them and any one else who reads my blog, a Very Merry Christmas and a wonderful, happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Ho, ho, ho

A little bit of sewing, a few granny squares, some winter cleaning, writing of Christmas cards, some online shopping and a partridge in a pear tree

Well, been a busy couple of weeks.  Several hospital appointments, (done now till the new year), lots of puppy chasing, Christmas shopping, house cleaning, etc. etc. etc.

Christmas cards are all written and will be mailed tomorrow.  Most of my Christmas shopping has been done online, not very personal but oh so convenient!  I didn't make any Christmas gifts this year, next year I plan to make at least our own Christmas cards and some ornaments.

I did make a Christmas bag for our newest grand baby, Vivi.  I sewed on the letter 'V', as I have sewed on each grandchilds's initial on all the other bags, but it looked a bit bare, needed something to make it pop.

On a trip into town I found some lovely Christmas buttons on closeout for 10c each.  I bought them all up, about 22 of them and sewed four onto the letter V as below. Popped it right out!

Maggie is 17 and a half weeks now and a right royal pest sometimes, but still adorable.  She has gone past the cute puppy stage into the gangly phase.

A couple more granny squares done and that about sums up the past few weeks.

Trying to get family to give me ideas for Christmas gifts is like pulling teeth!

I have been trying to get our families to let us know what they and the children would like for Christmas.  All the grandchildren have plenty of clothes and toys.  I like to get them something they really want.  As we don't see any of them very often it is difficult to know.  Same thing with my husband, I asked him to do an Amazon wish list for ideas for himself.

What response have I had so far?  Nothing, nought, zilch, nada!

So as all our money goes into one pool, said presents are bought out of it.

So, as I know exactly what I want, I went ahead and ordered mine this morning. I ordered the Sizzix die cutting machine and some dies.  I had bought some felt on the weekend so I will be ready to go on Christmas Day. Special thanks to my blogging friends Marie and Dawn for their help and advice on the machine and dies.

But I am overcome with feelings of guilt.  Now I may get over that when the parcels arrive but for now I feel bad.

When they arrive, I will check they are all OK and then put them away.  I am a stickler for not having presents until Christmas Day.  As I made the rule, I have to stick by it lol.

Maggie is doing great, she is 15 weeks old now.  Boris and she are getting along much better.

See the little spotted guy sitting on the dresser, he has been with me for many years. He came with me from England to Canada and then to the US.  He is by far the best behaved of the bunch lol.

Have managed another couple of granny squares this past week but no knitting or sewing alas.

All I want for Christmas is a ?????

Actually I do know what I want for Christmas, it's a Sizzix die cutting machine.  The problem is which one do I need?

If 'Dottie's Daughter' reads this can you let me know what your model number is please.

Also, does it cut through several layers of fabric or felt and what dies do you need to do that.  Does it need the BigZ ones to cut through fabric.  Do you think it would cut leather too?

I have been checking out Amazon but am clueless as to what I need.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.  I want to make some felt Christmas tree decorations for next year.  I see you make them.  I think it is something I can work on downstairs in the living room. Getting up to my sewing and knitting room is not easy these days with the puppy and other things going on.

As to my other crafty projects, still just working on Granny squares for a blanket for us. I have 16 made so far, so 4' x 4'.  Still have a long ways to go.

I took Maggie to the vets yesterday for her last set of puppy shots and worming plus she got her rabies shot so now she is good for a year.  She weighed in at 31.5lbs. She is 14 weeks old.  I think she is going to be a big 'un.  She is adorable, especially when she is napping lol.  Seriously though, she is doing well.  A tad on the boisterous side so we take her out a couple of times a day and let her run around like a mad thing.  Poor Boris gets worn out trying to keep up.  He does stop though when he has had enough and Maggie eventually slows down.  We are lucky that we have the land for her to run around.  She doesn't wander too far away from us though.

Maggie has found she can get on Papa Bear's chair via the footstool. Caught her on her way to attack my yarn!

Had some rain and strong winds here the past week or so. Can do without the wind but the rain was much needed.

Child's hoodie jacket pattern and arran type tuck stitch punchcards for a standard and a bulky machine

I mentioned I had joined a Facebook group about machine knitting.  I posted a couple of pictures of things I had made and a couple of ladies were interested in the hoodie jacket.  I took some pictures of the  Knit radar pattern and the punchcard I had used.

Not sure how a person can transfer the schematics of the pattern for their use but here they are if anyone is interested.  I do know a punchcard can be copied easily though.

For the standard machine

close up of the arran pattern on the standard.  I don't think I elongated this.

For the bulky machine

The arran tuck stitch on the bulky machine which I did elongate

PS: This post was done when the puppy was napping lol.
PPS: I am a terrible photographer. Apologies for the shadows etc.