Yep, I'm still here sewing!

A few months ago, I caught the monster bug. I

had purchased a book called Make a Monster

by Fiona Goble. When I opened it up,

my imagination just did a happy dance.

At last, time to 'sew silly'. I followed the patterns,

in my own way that is.

Here are a few of the results!

Love the pastels, and instead of using fleece

I used felt and flannel.

I added eyebrows and hair to this one and

and used contrasting thread for a

frankenstein look. Love it!

I went crazy with a critter pillow pattern too.

Its so soft and fun. Who couldn't use a third

eye and extra long arms for hugs!?

Landon loved it!

I went from critters to comfy neck pillows.

I hate seeing kids in their car seats with

their heads bobbing around

when they doze off

Grandson Landon uses his, just does not like his

picture taken! His is made of flannel

and is a green monkey!

Grandson Robby doesn't mind his picture taken.

His is a doggy, and flannel too. So soft and comfy!

Grandaughter Olivia had to have a pink kitty.

I added a few extras, like a pearl toe ring,

eyelashes too. She loved it!

Grandson Wyatt got a dog too. His is dino fabric.

Nice and bright. He is such a big boy now (2nd

grade!!) so I couldn't use cute baby fabric.

He is happy with the choice!

It was such fun giving the gifts to the kids. We had

to go back to Texas to deliver them, there was no

way I was sticking them in the mail knowing I

would get hugs and kisses in return!

I'm doing ok. Still have my days where I just

can't get much done. That is when I sit and just

do some hand sewing. Most of the above items

were hand sewn. I love doing it. Its relaxing,

easy to do, and just plain enjoyable.

I have been reading all my favorite blogs, could

not go without knowing about all the fun things

being made! Thank you all!

Back in my sewing room!

Its taken a while, quite awhile to be exact to get my

sewing room all put back together. The kids moved

out in Feb., and I could not wait to get all my goodies

back in there! Not that I don't miss the kids, but gee,

its my Sewing Room! ha!

Took awhile to post, months in fact.

In November I really got knocked for a loop

with not one bug but 2. Lucky me.

I somehow got meningitis followed up with C-Def,

a really nasty stomach bug which can actually

cause you to have to have a bowel transplant.

Glad I didn't get that bad. Oh, and I was also in

renal failure which if I had not gotten

admitted when I did, I had about a week left. Scary stuff.

I am all good now, going through some physical

therapy to get my steadiness and strength back and

its great. And that is all I am going to say about being

sick, there is so much more fun things to talk about!

And I am loving all the photos of the grandkids

enjoying easter, trips to the zoo, school fun

and joyful weekends. Those smiling faces

can't help but make you happy!

I have a few sewing projects in the works,

but of course, the first thing I cut out, I

lost a piece of the pattern. We dumped

the trash (day before pick

up...peeeeeuuuuuu!) No luck. It is

nowhere to be found. Crazy.

Been doing lots of hand sewing, making little

stuffed monsters, and its been fun, just being

silly sewing what I want for noses and

eyes and ears.

I hope you are all enjoying spring and had

a joyful Easter!

hello again!

Just a quick note to say hey, I'm alive, and darned lucky to be!

More to come on that later though.

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday filled with

love, fun and laughter and a Happy New Year filled

with even more!

I'm ready....ho ho ho

I LOVE Christmas. I really can't bring it to just one or two

things I love about it. I do think the top of the list is the

way it fills my heart. I am overflowing with memories

of family gatherings, smells of baking & coffee brewing,

little fingers sneaking candies, laying under the xmas

tree for that special view of the ornaments and tinsel.

And as the years go by, new memories join the old and

as I browse photos both old and new, my throat constricts

with love and unshed tears.

I know there are hundreds of other memories made

throughout a year, but I admit, my fav is Christmas.

And I was so surprised a few days ago, when I got

up and realized, HEY, its November 1st. The holiday

season is practically here. I was sooo excited! I was

practically doing a jig taking down halloween goodies

and planning what I was going to hang where this year!

Silly me!

And I just can't wait to dig these treasures out of the

box and hang them just right on our tree....

and to make sure the tree skirt is centered just right *so the dogs

can't do any doggie damage to it*

And to get the beads draped just so around and around the tree....
I'm one of those thats starts shopping early. I don't buy an

over abundance of presents *Bob might beg to differ on

that point*. But I am always on the look out for just the right thing

for every one. Last year I sewed up all the kids warm robes and

they were a hit. So now I am off to my sewing maching to get

this years treats sewed up just right!

I hope you all are finding the special little joys of Christmas a

little early this year too....ho ho ho

just a little busy

Got my new iron a few days ago. Filled it up,

plugged it in, picked my setting. Waited patiently

and finally got to ironing, for a few minutes.

ARGGGHHH No steam. Water leaked outta

the resevoir *sp?* at an alarming rate. Sigh...

Got it returned and spent the last 2 afternoons

catching up. Finally am all finished with the piles

of ironing! Yippee! NOW I am ready to start

matching fabric to patterns....oh How I Have

Missed Sewing! I'm still really missing my

sewing room, but thats ok, I'm making due

using a hospital tray table for my machine.

Work great, when I'm done for the day sewing,

I just wheel it out of the way. and the little drawer

it has is perfect for scissors and pins and all

the other odds and ends you need to keep

at hand.

Hope you are are having wonderful days too!

my iron died....OH NO!

This morning was just a typical day. Wash my hair.

Dry my hair. Curl my hair. Get dressed. Make

a cup of tea and plug the iron in to finish up a few

things and press out some fabric for some aprons

I am going to make. Couldn't wait to get started!

After I waited a few minutes, thinking the iron

would be hot, walked over and saw the light was

out on it. Huh? Checked to be sure it was plugged

in. Checked to see if I really did turn it on.

Hmmmm. I picked the iron up and the on light

flashed on. Oh! Then off. Sigh.

Sooo I wiggled the cord and it flashed on and

stayed that way. Not for long. Started ironing

when it warmed up and then, snap crackle

pop.....a lick of flame up my wrist.... a quick

scream ....EEK! It was snapping and a popping

when I unplugged it, then it just stopped and

smoked a little. Of course thats when I started

laughing. And you should have seen the ash on

my ironing board! wow! Thats a first!

Anyways, now I am going to have to QUICKLY

get a new iron. I feel lost with out it. I use my

iron every day even when I am not sewing. I

love ironing. I love crisp pleats. Tidy collars.

Freshly ironed pillowcases on my pillows. That

puff of steam. Smell of spray starch. It goes on.

I cannot go long without an iron in my hand.

Hi, my name is Melissa, I am addicted to ironing.

Ultimate Fighter ~ Landon Style

Round 1:

Poppa has Landon in the 'Upside Down Ankle Hold'

Round 2:

OH NO! Landon is caught in an 'Arm Bar'

Round 3:

Landon escapes the Arm Bar and goes for the 'Ground and Pound'

Round 4:

Poppa taps out...Landon Wins! And its Bottoms Up for the New UFC Champ!