Seventeen pictured and five more on the table. All sold as special orders. Love my cousin Kimmie Ann. She works at a hospital and has been packing a small suitcase around with my hats everywhere she goes. These are all 100% cotton except the cream one in the front, it is wool. I thank God I can work with my hands. Crocheting is something I can do without rattling moving my head about and I can just sit still and do it for hours. And I do. Sometimes I crochet 6-9 hours straight!

Miss Jaidy with one of her Aunt Angie hats. She is such a doll baby.

~Angela

My Wool Crazy Block

My spring retreat group is doing a round robin of wool crazy quilt blocks. Completely of wool makes for a great block. (It is just laying on the fabric for the photo op.) This can be made into pincushions or mats. Here is the book that started the whole wool crazy mania. It is a really good book with alot of details.

We are working in groups of 4 and the final reveal will be at the May retreat. Cannot wait to see it when the other 3 ladies are have worked their magic! My starter applique is the spool of button posies. So I guess you would say I have a primitive theme. Hopefully we will do this 3 times this year, I want a winter and spring one also! You can go see Penny, Conni, Michelle, Laura, Peggy, Vickie and Robin to see their blocks as they get them posted. I am in the group with Michelle, Conni and Laura.
I am one of those crazy people who goes outside and bangs on pots and pans at midnight on New Year's Eve as the ball drops. Rethinking it this year. It is storming with rain and thunder!!! Guess I will save the banging to do in the ears of all those I call to wish a Happy New Year! Well I always do that anyways. It honestly is a wonder anyone answers their phone. I think they must forget from year to year! hahaha Don't be looking at your caller id in a minute.. I am calling YOU next! :))
Happy New Year~Angela

Working away

These are on my Etsy. Have started working towards Farmer's Market and our spring shows.

I had a good report at the eye surgeon yesterday. He was pleased with things and that makes ME pleased. 

Hope everyone is staying warm and snotty nose free. Unfortunately, that last one has hit my family. 

~Angela

Favorites and not so fav

 A treasure from my bestie Michelle in Canada. Stitched and punchneedle.

 Pic of Shayla, that Heather took when she was a wee one. Nativity that was my parent's. I loved it so much as a child, that Mom gave it to me several years ago. The first thing that comes out for the Christmas season. And the last thing to be put away.

 First snow of the season this morning.

Our VERY VERY sad Christmas tree. I awoke at 3:30am to find it laid across the room. Damage included the top is broken off and the stand was trashed. We will try to rig it tonight when Mark comes home. The last year for this poor tree. And it was sooooo pretty.

The kitty that wrecked our tree. Bad Timmy! Don't  be giving me that "Who me? It was Toby." face. I know better. Sigh....kids? What are you to do? But Santa is definitely taking notes. I am just saying!!

My giftie

From sweet Michelle at retreat. I love it! (And borrowed the pic from her blog.) All Civil War repro fabrics. Very yummy! WE love it!

Just what I needed

These ladies were so awesome. Made the retreat just a good, relaxing time. No drama. Just a lot of sewing, crafting, eating and visiting. See that lil' munchkin in the front row? She was the life of our party! The smartest 5 year old I have ever seen. I know many of the ladies really needed this time of refreshing. Plain and simple, I needed a change of scenery. I will share a few more pics soon. Trying to play catch up on my rest a bit more. 

Hope everyone is warm and well.

~Angela

Better times are a'comin'

And they start tomorrow! Cause I am seeing all these friends this week! And having a bit of a virtual retreat with Michelle in Canada too. Fun times.

The long awaited November Quilt Retreat is here! Finally. Old friends and new ones too. Cannot wait to have a fun time. I need it! (And I know everyone else does too!) The past several weeks haven't been great healthwise. I hate lupus. But not gonna dwell on it tonight. Praying my body will play pretty and I can just enjoy my coming week. I plan on building my nest and parking it there. :o) Even taking my sewing machine. Which has not seen the light of day since MAY! Yes you read it here. So we will see what happens. Of course I am taking a huge stash of yarn.
The photo is the name tags I painted for everyone. Giving you a peek cause hopefully the girls are all getting rested for the drive to Indiana tomorrow and not cruisin' the net. The name tags are pretty simple, but they are what they are. Finished!!!! hahaha Which is HUGE! But then they are huge too, 4 1/2-inch long packing tags. I hadn't painted in even longer than I had sewn! Sheesh. Thank God I can crochet I am just telling ya. 

Have a sweet week everyone!

Got cats?

We sure do!!!!

Please spay or neuter your pets!!!!

I just sat outside in my enclosed backyard (privacy fence) and counted 6 cats. SIX! And none of them mine! Crazy!! And two of them are with child!!! Eeek. 

Sorry, but I just had to vent a sec.

Catching up

Photos of some of my Farmer's Market wares. Wool felted bags and cozies. Wool pins. Only 2 Saturday's left of market. I am going to miss it greatly. The people are wonderful and the sales have been great. 

Then I had to share the newest pics of Miss Jaidyn. My great-niece will be 3 in December. Such a joy to our family.

Here is an update on my health for all those sweet ladies who have asked. I have just finished up 3 weeks of treatments, will be off 5 and then back on for 4. Another MRI and then we will see what is what. The surgery is on hold for the present. My September MRI showed the tumor had shrunk from treatments this summer down to what it was in December. Which was a God thing! If it will stay this size, the dr feels it is better to maintain it with periodic treatments rather than do surgery. With my other health issues, it would be safer and easier on my overall health. I am having problems with my blood so have been having transfusions to help that. Right now I am trying to rest a lot. That is a huge thing. 

The cooler, no humidity weather is making me happy. Feeling more crafty than I have in months. Have been doing some needle felting. AND Penny and I have signed up to vendor at two wool fiber shows in spring 2011. Yaya us. Gotta keep making our little girl plans. I will be hostessing a quilt retreat next month. Very excited about that. I rest a lot at these and it is such good energy there. Love being with my friends.

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the autumn.

~Angela

What in the world am I doing

Never thought this would be what I was crocheting. Oh well. Cuppycake anyone? :o)

Simple Cookies

1 dry white or yellow cake mix
1 stick of melted butter
2 eggs
chocolate chips or other bits of yummy (I used a mix of peanut butter and choc in the ones shown.)

Mix together the melted butter and eggs. Add the dry cake mix. Stir in the chips. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10 minutes (oven temps will vary). I used parchment paper. You do not want the cookies to brown. Remove from the baking sheet immediately to cool. This recipe made 3 dozen cookies using my small 1-inch cookie scoop. They do spread while baking. I placed 12 on a baking sheet with ample space.

Health update: I have an extensive MRI from the waist up tomorrow. See the neurosurgeon next Monday. 

Wait

"Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Isaiah 40:31

The Time Keeper

This the greatest organizer. The Time Keeper is a datebook with space for notes, pockets, tear off grocery lists, calendar and much more. I know it will help me in the coming year. I have already written dates in it for 2011. Encourage you to check out their site. The price is very reasonable, especially if you compare it to similar items at book stores. I was blessed to have this one gifted to me.

God is able

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:20-21).