So I was at the grocery store today and the clerks were passing out fortune cookies to celebrate Chinese New Year.  I’ve just Googled Chinese New Year 2010 and so far everything I’ve read says that on the western calendar it begins on February 14th (Year of the Tiger). Today is the 5th….

…so, thanks to the local grocery store I am finally ahead of the game on something!

Hurrah!!

I still have Christmas gifts to mail, but by God, I’ve got the Chinese New Year covered!

What, you guys haven’t celebrated yet?  Well, GET ON IT!

Martha Stewart and I will be sitting back with a cup of tea.

(Cause I imagine that Martha probably has the next 10 Chinese New Years all mapped out already.)

Happy Chinese New Year to you all!

Jenn ; )

Josh bought me this beautiful handmade doll and it just arrived today.

(I’m a big fan of Mimi’s dolls – I have this one, too!)

It reminds me of Madeline, all swaddled for a nap.

Thank you, Josh!

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I’m working on some new additions for the shop.

I hope to share those with you soon!

Jenn : )

…wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Have a glass of your favorite drink.

And a Ginger Cookie on me.

Jenn : )

Woolfelt dots for decorating my next round of pincushions.

And more dotty goodness:

Key Lime Dot Scarf made by Mountainavenbaby

Elephant Stuffed Toy made by SewnNatural

Stuck On You Card made by Michellenstamps

Jenn : )

Friends of ours have a little girl who’ll be having her first birthday in February.  I’m feeling very party-ish these days, but alas, I’m in no position to throw a party myself (hm…there is the first episode of the new LOST season coming up…I may take that back.) I’ve volunteered to help plan and set up for Robyn’s special day.  I want to contribute something handmade, but with a little one to watch over, this project has to be something easy and interruptible. I decided to make a pennant banner.  It’s the perfect project for me right now: it uses fabric (I have a ton of that!) and it can easily be worked on in stages (good for those days when I have only 20 minutes here and there).

Pennant banners are all over the place – you can find loads of how-tos all over the internet.  I’ve been surprised at how easy this has been to work on so far.  It’s a great project for using small-ish pieces of fabric and even smaller bits for the letters.

I used Heat N Bond, an iron-on adhesive I bought at Joann’s, to affix the fabric letters to the pennant triangles.  Then I had to Jenn Maruska it up with embroidered outlines.  I used a simple back stitch.

I think that makes the letters stand out better.

Above: before

Below: after

(Hmmm.. whose little feet are casting a shadow on my work table?)

Isabella’s!

Now I’ve just got to hunt down the right ribbon or bias tape to string the pennants together.

I’ll post a photo when it’s finished.

Here’s an even simpler banner tutorial over at the Purl Bee.

Party on!

Jenn : )

…make me happy!

Even the selvages are cute:

Leaves

Skulls

Butterflies

Ladybugs

Jenn : )

From Cotton Time:

These photos are from the Nov. issue.

The Jan. issue is on its way!

Jenn : )

Hmm…

I thought the holidays were busy BEFORE I had a baby!

Good Lord – I still have Christmas presents to wrap!

But, I did manage to get one crafty Christmas project finished…

…finished at 11:59 pm Christmas night…

…but finished nonetheless.

I wish you all a wonderful 2010!

Jenn : )

(P.S. I got this stocking pattern from Martha Stewart.  I added the embroidered names and substituted French knots for sequins.  I am very happy with the results, but I found the sizing of this pattern was a bit wonky (how does Martha let that happen??) and cutting out the felt for the cuffs was a bit tedious… but, as most Martha projects come with some ultra time-consuming component, this wasn’t a surprise, and I think it was worth the effort in the end.)

This is one of the new favoritest books in the Maruska house:

Scaredy Squirrel!

Adorable illustrations, great story and fun to read.

Scaredy Squirrel leads a predictable life, planning for any emergency.

Until one day, when something shocking happens!

Without giving away the dramatic ending,

I will say that Scaredy Squirrel’s world will change…

forever!!!

I’m pretty sure Scaredy Squirrel At The Beach,

Scaredy Squirrel At Night,

and

Scaredy Squirrel Makes A Friend

will be joining us SOON!

Jenn : )

… a message to Paula Deen.

Hello!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Our plans fell through when our friends called to say that they had the flu.  We decided to keep Madeline at home, so we celebrated with a quick roasted chicken, just the three of us.

I hope to have photos of our newly renovated upstairs, soon.  We have a few minor things to finish up and we’ll finally be done (we started this renovation all the way back in June!)  I’ve started slowly moving my studio upstairs, out of the dark, depressing basement (did you hear the champagne pop?) and we’ve already spent a few nights in our new bedroom.

Madeline keeps me very busy, but she and I are working out a routine, and I’m getting better at multi-tasking and doing things one handed.  I have a new respect for all you moms out there – this really is the toughest of jobs.

I have very little reading time lately, but I try to do a little here and there, while I’m feeding the baby.  One of my recent reads, is this issue of Food Network Magazine that my friend Christina sent me.

It has several recipes that I’d like to try, some great gadget ideas and lots of delicious photos.  I read it straight through and then set it aside, in a spot where I see it every day…

… and the more I look at it, the more I chuckle and think to myself:

________________________________________

Dear Paula Deen,

You seem like such a nice lady.

What is going on with your hair?

My great grandmother had a silver Christmas tree that spun around and had four different colored lights that shined on it.  I’m pretty sure it was made before lead testing was popular.

You should find a new stylist.

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(Stay tuned – my next post involves a squirrel!)

Jenn : )