Craft show sewing

I have four shows coming up, which is why I haven't done much posting. The first one is Oct 6; I actually have to work that day, but Holly said she'd bring my stuff anyway. I have been making little cosmetic bags and tissue holders. I think they are nice and are a good size, too. The bags have a quilted bottom so they are a bit sturdier and will stand up. I have a lot of them made, I am selling tham as a set for $10. I might make some individual bags a bit bigger too, and maybe sell them for $7 or $8 each. Anyway, here's pics of the first 2 sets I made; I really like the black and white one.

Cooler Weather

We have had a bit cooler weather the last couple of days, there is a definite hint of fall in the air. Irene turned the heat on yesterday morning, and it is on again this morning. I stepped out the door and it's a bit chilly. I love fall, it's my favorite time of year. I love the colors and the smells and snuggling under an extra quilt at night. And I love the prelude to the holidays. There is so much preparation and anticipation; cooking and baking and making gifts and knowing that Melissa and Gregory will be home and we will all be together. Irene is looking forward to having a tree and Christmas in this house; last year we thought this house would be sold and she would be at Gloria's or in her own apartment. Now, instead, we have many more holidays to look forward to in this house. She told John she never wants to leave here, and she never will if we can help it.
Siobhan mentioned wanting to start baking cookies last night; I told her it's a bit too early but we will soon. Maybe the first week or so in October. I have been doing so well on my diet that I really have to watch the whole cookie making thing. I can eat half a dozen without even thinking twice.
John and I had a nice afternoon and evening yesterday. He came home early to take Irene to her dr's appt and while she was there we went to Naperville River walk and just sat in the grass talking and watching people feed ducks. After we dropped her off we went and got dinner at Portillos and sat in Salt Creek Park and ate it. While we were there 6 deer came walking out of the woods. They kind of watched us but they really weren't very scared. They just kind of sauntered up the edge of the forest til they were so far back we couldn't see them anymore. It was very cool. One was a bit bigger than the others so it might have been a male, although he didn't have any antlers. I don't know when they grow antlers and when they shed them so I'm not sure. After we came home John came down into my domain and we sat down here for another hour and just talked. It was a very pleasant day, and we need to do it more often. We want to finish fixing up the tv area down here so he or I or whoever can come down and watch whatever they want on tv. We still don't have cable here. We were dissatisfied enough with Comcast in the last year we had them that I'm not sure we want to go with them again.

Wool for Nfld. scene rug

I started dyeing wool yesterday for a new rug; I haven't done any dyeing since we moved, so it was time.I'm not sure exactly what the scene will be yet, I may design my own or I might buy a pattern from Deanne Fitzpatrick; she has a wonderful pattern of 2 Cape Islanders and a couple of houses and some nice hills. I have my water and sky colors dyed, and I dyed a pretty gold piece for a house. After it was dyed and out of the dyepot, I added some more gold dye and a red piece of wool. I wanted to tone the red down a bit, so I could use it for a barn or outbuilding or even another house. Well it bled; I knew it was going to because it bled when I rinsed it out, so I threw another piece of cream wool in the pot and as bonus I got a pretty orange shade that I can use some other time. I may dye a piece a bit darker blue to add to the water colors, but I might have a piece already so I'm going to look for it. I want to dye some hill/ground colors some autumn tones; maybe some golds, tans and light reds; I can mix them in with the greens and add a touch of fall to my picture. I wish I hadn't dyed all the roving; I could use a bit here and there to fluff out clouds.

Needlework accessories and bag keepers

This is what I been up to the last couple of days. I finished the 2nd bagkeeper, I was playing around with a smaller size and it's a little too small. I like the embroidery though, and the yoyo adds a nice touch. I really like the owl one, I am probably listing it on Etsy today.

The pincushion was easy and fun. I still have tons of 6 inch squares from my friends downsizing her stash, and they are perfect to cut a circle from. The bottom circle is pink wool I dyed, although I forgot to take a picture of it. There is an excellent tutorial for it here: http://whipup.net/2006/03/01/stickin-it-to-the-pincushion/

The needlebook is foundation pieced; I saved the pattern in my files as a pdf. file; the link is here: http://www.nmia.com/~mgdesign/qor/freepatterns/cqneedlecase/needlecase.html I made a check book cover from this pattern too, it's the perfect size for that.