Jolly Fat Men Welcome Here!

Welcome Santa to your home with this cute cross-stitched sign. This little pillow measures a wee 4-inches by 8-inches and would make a sweet addition to your Christmas decorating.

I especially love the look of this pillow when it is tucked between pine branches or other Christmas greenery.

You may be the lucky person to win this cross-stitched sign along with...


this set of four fabric drink coasters...


this patchwork Christmas tree skirt...



these fall and winter fabric flower pins...


a Polka Dotted Christmas Stocking...


and little miss Yo-Yo Annie.

**If you'd like to enter to win the cross-stitched sign, coasters, Christmas tree skirt, pins, Christmas stocking, and Yo-Yo Annie, please leave a comment about your favorite Christmas memory here. Only comments made on my post of 6/30/08 will be eligible.**

Have a happy day!

Aloha!

P.S. Gee, I almost forgot. It seems that I have a very short attention span these days. Fran asked if I have any craft ideas for men. Unfortunately, the answer is no. As you can see, I'm pretty much the queen of fru-fru and I doubt any man would want to have anything to do with what I make. Sorry, Fran.

Wannabecrafty asked how to get even tufting when making the tufted pincushions. Here is how I do it...I usually take a paper circle that is just about a half-inch smaller than the pincushion to be tufted and fold it in eighths. Open up the paper circle and center it onto the stuffed pincushion. Secure it in place with a straight pin in the center. Place straight pins into the pincushion at the perimeter of the paper circle where the eight fold lines meet the pincushion. Remove the paper circle. Use the pins as your guide for even tufting. I usually use 6 strands of embroidery floss for tufting. I find that anything less than 6 strands can easily break during the tufting process. Hope this helps.

Jolly July

I spent a good part of my weekend tuned in to the Lifetime Movie Chanel for their month-long Christmas movie extravaganza, aptly named Jolly July. Just about every one of those movies were light hearted tear jerkers and each one was filled with the spirit of the holiday season. The timing couldn't have been better for me and now I'm even more in the holiday spirit than ever.

Please accept my heartfelt appreciation for your comments and for sharing your very touching Christmas memories with me. I want you to know how deeply they have affected me as I read through each and every one of them. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, friends.

In honor of Jolly July, I've put together a few Christmas-themed coasters.

The base of a wine glass fits perfectly inside the coaster. It can also be used as a rug for your coffee mug as well.

You may be the lucky person to win this set of four coasters along with...



this patchwork Christmas tree skirt...



these fall and winter fabric flower pins...


a Polka Dotted Christmas Stocking...


and little miss Yo-Yo Annie.

Isn't it crazy how the days are just flying by? It's difficult to believe that we'll be heading into the second week of July in just a matter of hours. I need to plant myself in my craft room and get some work done or I'll be sorry when November rolls around. Take care and have a fabulous day!

Aloha!

**If you'd like to enter to win the coasters, Christmas tree skirt, pins, Christmas stocking, and Yo-Yo Annie, please leave a comment about your favorite Christmas memory here. Only comments made on my post of 6/30/08 will be eligible.**

All Spruced Up

A Christmas tree just isn't complete without a tree skirt. I liken it to getting all spruced up in your finest evening wear and then forgetting to put on your shoes.

This gored patchwork tree skirt measures just under 24-inches and would make a lovely addition to a country or whimsical themed tree.

Forty fabric yo-yo's were joined together to form an attractive and playful border.

You may be the lucky person to win this Christmas tree skirt along with...




these fall and winter fabric flower pins...


a Polka Dotted Christmas Stocking...


and little miss Yo-Yo Annie.

The sky is presently a beautiful shade of blue with barely a cloud in sight. It's revving up to be a dandy of a weekend. I've got quite a few loose ends to tie up around here so I'll see you all on Monday. Please have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July.

Aloha!


**If you'd like to enter to win the Christmas tree skirt, pins, Christmas stocking, and Yo-Yo Annie, please leave a comment about your favorite Christmas memory here. Only comments made on my post of 6/30/08 will be eligible.**

Seasonal Spin

Candy corn, hot spiced cider, a bowl of steaming hot chili with a tasty slab of cornbread. A flower pin as delicious as a caramel apple.


Peppermint candy canes, hot chocolate with marshmallows, Christmas carols. A sweet sugarplum pin to wear during the Christmas season.


If you haven't figured it out yet, fall and winter are my favorite seasons. I am not an outdoorsy-type person so spring and summer do not interest me at all. Phooey to hot stifling weather. On a cool winter's day, you can find me in front of the window with a hot beverage in hand while watching the rain fall. That, my friends, is my idea of an enjoyable day.

It sure is fun celebrating the holidays in July as it takes my mind off of the heat and humidity of summer. I'm happy that many of you are playing along even though you probably think that I've totally lost my mind.

In honor of Rudolph and the boys, I am adding these two flower pins to the pot. Yes, my friends, one lucky person will win these two pins along with...


a Polka Dotted Christmas Stocking...


and little miss Yo-Yo Annie.

I hope you have a glorious day.

Aloha!

**If you'd like to enter to win the pins, Christmas stocking, and Yo-Yo Annie, please leave a comment about your favorite Christmas memory here. Only comments made on my post of 6/30/08 will be eligible.**

Thanks for the Memories

The one thing that I have come to realize over the years is that people are the same no matter where they come from. After reading through yesterday's comments, I now believe that even more. Your memories could have easily been my memories. Yes, today I am waxing nostalgic.

Thank you to all of you who have responded in such a heartfelt way. Your posts have brought many tears to my eyes, sometimes from your memories and sometimes from my own past that was similar to yours. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing a part of you with me.

Since I've been reflecting on days gone by, I have decided to create something that reminds me of my youth. Please meet Yo-Yo Annie. Her body is made from two stuffed yo-yo's. She would look cute as an ornament on a country themed or children's themed Christmas tree. The person who is randomly selected to get the stocking will also get Yo-Yo Annie.




When I returned home from an errand yesterday, I noticed a box on my front porch. I knew that I wasn't expecting anything so I was very curious to see who it was from. To my surprise, it was from my friend Joyce who has a blog called Crafter Thoughts. She send me the loveliest ornament because she said that she could tell from my posts that I loved Christmas just as much as she does. I don't know if you can see it or not, but the white ribbon has gold polka dots on it. Joyce said she chose that just for me. I wonder how she knew? LOL She says that this ornament is made from small pieces of ribbon held together by 300 straight pins. 300 straight pins! Do you know that you can't see a single one of them. Fabulous craftsmanship, Joyce. I promise to put your ornament center front on my Christmas tree for all my guests to see. I know that they're all going to want one too. Thank you so much for being such a wonderful friend.


I would also like to introduce you to a very sweet gal named Lilly. She has a blog called Lilly's Stuff where she shares her beautiful quilts and stitcheries and other pretty things that she makes. I strongly urge you to drop by and see them for yourselves. Lilly, your strawberry freezer jam looks simply delish!

Have a happy day!

Aloha!

**If you'd like to win the Christmas stocking and Yo-Yo Annie, please leave a comment about your favorite Christmas memory here. Only comments made on my post of 6/30/08 will be eligible.**

What is red, aqua, yellow, green, and white? A Christmas stocking, of course!

If you produce items for sale, you are presently working on your Christmas seasonal and gift items. I've seen several recent blog posts relating to Christmas so I know that it is already on some of your minds. I am bound and determined to get the rest of you into the Christmas spirit and what better way than to offer up this polka-dotted Christmas stocking.

To be eligible, you will need to make a comment under this post and tell me what your favorite Christmas memory is. If that doesn't put you in the mood my friends, nothing will. You may comment under this post until midnight EST on July 15, 2008. On July 16, one lucky person will have a brand spanking new Christmas stocking to call their very own.


As a child, my parents would throw yearly Christmas parties with relatives and close neighbors invited. There would be Christmas music, tons of food, dancing, decorations, party games, Santa Claus, everything that you would expect at a really cool holiday wingding.

I remember potatoes scattered on the dance floor in honor of the dance called the Mashed Potato. Then we would do the Limbo under the limbo stick and then everyone at the party would form a long train and do the Bunny Hop all around the patio. This was the 60's, folks, and what can I say other than we knew how to party! ROFLMAO!!

My parents didn't throw a lot of parties but they sure knew how to throw a holiday bash. It was the topic of conversation in the neighborhood for months after. In fact, when I ran into an old neighbor several years ago, he began reminiscing about those parties. It was then that I realized that these weren't only my memories, but the shared memories of many.

Have a good day!

Aloha!

Happy Saturday!

I thought I'd post a better picture of the tic-tac-toe game board as last nights photo was so dark.

To stabilize the game board, I inserted a sheet of chipboard between the two black layers of felt. One-inch buttons have been glued to the bottoms of the game pieces to add some height and weight and overall ease of handling.

I hope you're having a fabulous Saturday and are enjoying your time outdoors. Don't forget to save some barbecue for me. I'll be right over!
Aloha!