Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Ravenwood Whimzie's Blog Hop!

Hello everyone!  It's been a WAY long time no see for me on here.  My apologies.  Life has really thrown me for a loop since I blogged last and so much has changed.  It is good change though.  Most of that news is for another time or I could go on and on, but I will say my second son who I announced in my LAST blog post is now over a year old now!  Time flies!



Anyways, I joined my mother-in-law, Wendy's Ravenwood Whimzies Blog Hop and you can click the link to go to her page and check out all the other wonderful blogs in the hop too if you haven't already!

For my post today I have a pattern for a piggy ornament I came up with myself.  It was inspired by a resin ornie I saw a year ago in Hobby Lobby and that got my mind a-movin'.  Hee hee.  I think pigs are adorable and I couldn't resist.

Please bear with me as this is the first time I'm writing out directions for a pattern.  I've made patterns before but they were for me alone, I was able to figure out what I was thinking when I did it myself (even if it took a few tries!)

Ok to start out you first need this pattern.  Click on it to make it larger, save it and print it to a 8 x 11 in. sheet of paper.


Next trace the pieces onto a piece of muslin or even felt if you desire.  I had a scrap of coffee-stained muslin hanging around when I made mine so that's what I used.  Don't cut out these patterns on the lines once they are traced, but rather sew ON the lines and cut the shapes out afterwords.  Start by taking the main big body piece of the pig and go from right ABOVE the leg all the way around until you hit the other stop line.  DO NOT SEW THE LEGS!  We have another step for those.  Now cut out around the main body piece.




The next step is to take the two leg pieces and sew the straight long line FIRST, leaving an opening to stuff in the end as the pattern shows.  Once you have done that, cut out the leg piece.



Open the leg pieces on both the pig main body and on the smaller leg pieces and overlap them.  You will sew them together this way.  If the leg pieces don't perfectly match up, don't worry.  When I did this I found the smaller leg pieces to be a tad bigger.  Just sew as close as you can to the edge.  When you are done, turn the pig inside out so he looks nice and stuff.



When you are done with that, whip stitch the opening closed.



Sew the ears on doubled pieces of muslin and leave a small opening so you can turn them inside out. 

Now sew on the ears.  You actually want to put them somewhere near the middle of the head.  Do what looks right to you, but this little pig is actually a lot of head.  Have a look at my example to see what I mean.  In the future I might put the ears a tad higher up but I think overall I like where I placed them.





Now for details!  I used a bit of twine-covered wire to make a curly tail and cut a teeny hole in the back to stick it in.  I held it in place with a drop of hot glue.

I also took a small scrap of felt and cut a triangle hat and sewed it together.  I took a few fabric scraps and stuffed the hat so it stayed upright.  I glued this on the head then found a small piece of fur to glue on for trim.

Add small bead eyes.

Because I made this for my husband I added a little star on a wire and put that in the front of the head (much like an angler fish).  You don't have to do this, it's just an inside joke in this house.

Now simply add a string for hanging and put this little guy on your tree!




And now for the recipe.  Back when I was a kid, we tended to have these amazing sugar cookies with maraschino cherries and white chocolate chips around holidays (especially Christmas).  They are a delight and I hope you will enjoy them too!



Vanilla Chip Cherry Cookies--(I come from a big family of 10 people so this is the halved recipe)



Ingredients:

-10 oz. jar of maraschino cherries; drained
-2 tsp. cream of tartar
-1-1/8 tsp. baking soda
-3 cups + 3 Tbsp. of flour
-2 sticks butter, softened 
-1-1/4 cups sugar
-2 eggs
-1/4 tsp. vanilla
-1-1/4 tsp. almond extract
-1 bag Nestle Vanilla Chips
-Additional 1/2 cup sugar

Drain the cherries and chop them up in food processor.  Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and flour.

In mixing bowl, beat the butter and 1-1/4 cups of sugar until fluffy.  Add the eggs, vanilla, and almond extract and mix.

Gradually add the flour mixture.  Mix in the vanilla chips and chopped cherries on low.

Cover and refrigerate the dough for 2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Put the additional 1/2 cup sugar into a gallon-sized Ziploc bag.

Scoop out a rounded tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball.  Set aside and continue until all the dough has been scooped and rolled into balls.

Add the balls, 12 at a time, to the sugar in the Ziploc bag.  Seal the bag tightly and carefully shake until the balls are coated with sugar.

Place the balls onto baking sheets that have been lined with parchment paper, or lightly greased with shortening.  Place 12 cookies on each cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-12 minutes, until they are lightly browned.

Cool the cookies slightly before removing them from the cookie sheet.

Yield: 40 cookies

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Life at Cricket Hollow

Ah, Cricket Hollow.  That is the name Mr. Fox and I have given to our house quite a while ago.  Much has been happening lately and I thought I'd share a bit about it!

Spring has finally sprung around here and I'm so grateful.  It is SO nice to see green and flowers again and to be able to go outside and feel comfortable! :)


Peter looking dapper and his cousin Allie looking pretty in their Easter attire!
Last Sunday as you know was Easter and we went over to my in-law's house to celebrate family style.  It was a beautiful day!  Sunny and warm and Little Fox got to wear his new suit Grandmummy got for him.  I hated taking it off but after photos needed to so it'd stay clean.  My son has been walking--or rather RUNNING for about 2 months now and I knew his nice clothes wouldn't look good for long otherwise!  We got to take a nice 3 mile walk in the sun.  I brought a orange creamsicle cheesecake I found on Pinterest last year that was a hit then, and I think, again.  I know Mr. Fox LOVES it!

Meet one of the Dinners!
I have raised my first batch of chickens this year!  This picture was taken a few weeks ago.  I really wanted to give this chicken raising thing a go.  Earlier this spring some friends were considering raising some Cornish Rock chickens (meat birds) and I wanted to go in on them with it.  I've wondered for a while now what it'd be like to raise more of our own food.  Unfortunately they were unable to do so in the end, but hubby let me give this a go.  I've really enjoyed this and hope to be able to do this again next year!  Last week I butchered 3 of my 7 chickens, and I will be doing a few more this weekend, possibly the last the weekend after that depending on food supplies.  I'd love to raise some chickens for eggs someday but right now we just don't have the money to feed chickens year round.  Maybe someday!  I think a Silkie named Yeti would be awesome.




Mr. Fox and I have been working on preliminary plans for a new business,  Ye Olde Goat Cart.  We are making high-quality natural soap from scratch, lip balms, and hopefully eventually lotions as well.  The soaps have had rave reviews so far from our testing audience!  We're working on having the lip balm tested.  I am enjoying how it's feeling thusfar and my son's speech therapist, who said previously only Burts Bees worked for her lips really loved it too!  I'm working currently on designing a logo.  We're getting close!

 AND NOW FOR THE BIGGEST NEWS!
And some BIG news I was rather slow to share about is: Little Fox is going to be a BIG BROTHER!  Here is how we surprised family.  Ultrasound at 8 weeks.. I sewed the bandana bib for him.

And another ultrasound at 16 weeks!  It's amazing what they can see now a days!  We find out the gender May 8th! :)  (though I *might* happen to have a good idea based on the ultrasound I had this day.)  I had a bit of a scare around St. Patrick's day that has thankfully resolved.  I started bleeding out of the blue and was terrified I was going to have another miscarriage.  After hours in the ER, we found out all is well it's just a common issue that tends to happen.  I was SO GRATEFUL TO GOD! 

Well that's all for now, have a great week! :)


Friday, April 11, 2014

A Very Special Pinkeep Swap

Happy Friday!  Today I want to share with you all a very special swap package I received!  I feel really bad that it has taken me so long to post this--lately I have had a hard time getting a chance to just sit and write.  My sweet swap partner is Theresa from Dulaney Woods Treasures!  Please check her out, she does amazing work!  My mother in law, Wendy from Ravenwood Whimzies put on the pinkeep swap.  She has these twice yearly. 

Here's the sweet swap set up outside on our hottub cover.  Photos loo so much better in the sun!
Theresa spoiled me with so many amazing things!  She sent the most adorable pinkeep that has been cross-stiched, oh how I love it so!
So detailed!
Strawberry bowl-fillers!
She made these amazing strawberry bowl fillers too from felt with stick stems!  So nice to have a reminder of the warmer weather sitting in my house!

Outside of the stitching book complete with my initials!
Inside of the stitching book--I love it!
Theresa also send this little stitching book!  It's got a cross stitch front including my initials--how very thoughtful!  The inside excited me just as much--it is made from a beautiful fabric, has a pinkeep spot, a few antique bone buttons and a pair of embroidery scissors!  I've actually been needing a pair haha so I was so delighted to find some inside!  THANK YOU THERESA!

Keepsake book cover
Look at the cool bags to hold things inside!
She also made me a special keepsake book.  Now, I have never seen anything like this before and it's absolutely ingenious!  There are little paper bag pages inside so I can write or put pictures on the page and keep little special things inside!  How neat! 

So cute!  For my son Peter!
Theresa also sent my son Peter a little gift.  It's this ADORABLE bunny!  I'll have to post a picture of him cuddling with it soon :)  Now my Peter Rabbit has a bunny of his own!

She also sent some chocolates a card and a nice pattern.  Everything was made with such love and care.  I love it all so much!  Thank you again Theresa!  It's been fun making a new friend through this swap! :)

Have a good Friday everyone!

Saturday, November 9, 2013

It's November ALREADY?!

Happy Saturday everyone!  I just wanted to take a bit of time to say some of the going-ons we've been having around here.  I can't believe it's been over a month since I've last posted but here we go again.  I tend to get a bit daunted about blogging for whatever reason the longer it is between posts.  I know it sounds silly but it's the case!

Lets see... where to start?  Well Little Fox has been growing so fast!  He started to crawl once he hit 9 months and now he is 10 months already!  He also has six teeth.  I can't believe he'll be a year next month!  Haha I wouldn't be surprised if I end up shedding a tear or two when he has his birthday.  Little Fox loves playing around and animals especially dogs.  He loves to cuddle too.  I am so blessed he is my son! :) 
Peter going after a drill while Strider looks out the window.
This last weekend my Golden Retriever, Strider, also passed an exam so he can become a therapy dog with Cornell Companions!  I'm awaiting more information, but we'll be visiting one of the local nursing homes twice a month and possibly help out with other things too.  Our local librarian wants to start a Paws For Reading program too and if we are able, Strider will be doing that!  It's a program where Strider will go to the library and help kids learn to love to read. 
"I'm gonna be a THERAPY DOG!!"
I've been crafting a great deal as usual too.  Making bears, designing ornies, drawing people's pets.  I often wish there were more hours to a day so I can get more done.  But I am happy with what does get finished in the end.  Here are some of my projects! 
Heirloom Bears
Oreo Pigs-my own pattern!!
For Halloween this year, Mr. Fox, Little Fox and I were the three bears!  We dressed up Strider in a home-made skirt and put a bow in his ear so he could be Golden-Locks.  Yes I know it's normally Goldie, but he is a Golden haha.  It was a great deal of fun. 

Think this is all I'll say for tonight--I have one ornie I really want to finish and Petie is asking for food!  Have a good night everyone!


Saturday, September 21, 2013

The almost finished quilt and OFG news!

Hi sweet friends!  I'm taking a moment to blog a bit of happy news!  First of all, I just joined and got accepted into the Old Farmhouse Gathering team on Etsy!  I am so very excited to be a part of this wonderful and talented community!  *does a happy dance*

Second, I want to share a photo of my son's *almost* finished baby quilt!  It is a design I came up with to go with the theme we are doing for him--sharks.  Of course it needed a fox too!  I started this before he was born and silly me thought I'd have it done by the time of his birth.  Haha!  I am not sure what I was thinking.  My son just turned 9, yes friends, NINE months today and it's still not quite finished.  I can't believe where the time has went.  The quilt pretty much needs to be trimmed and binding sewn on it--I plan to use the blue bubble fabric for that.  I am oh so excited to be getting this done!  I'd like to have it done by the end of next week.  When I do I'll be sure to post a finished picture!  (the one I am showing you now was on my hubby's phone and taken in our dark house--it's evening now)
That's all for now sweet friends!  Until next time :)

Monday, September 9, 2013

Something to warm the heart!

Hi Friends!  I just had to post this heart-warming picture for you all!  I took my son outside for a mini photo-shoot and he cooperated beautifully!  My new most favorite picture of him hehe.  God has blessed us so!

Football is back!

Hi Everybuddy!  This Post is from Strider!  I hope you all had a great Football Sunday!  I did!  I spent the whole day dressed to see my favorite team--The Packers!  Don't I look handsome in my jersey and eyeblack?  I know they didn't win but they did pretty good!  Have a great Monday!  WOOF WOOF!