I have been doing a little of this and a little of that. Trying to get the garage set up for plants. The green house needs repair and is costly to heat so I will use one side of my double garage.

Night temp for tonight is 38 to cold for some of my hanging baskets.

I did an arrangement using dried sweet annie,

okra pods and bunny tail grass. Fun and smells good. I love zinnias and miss them through the winter.

Lots to do to get ready for the cold weather. Blessing on all.

 I have done some creating in the last few weeks.

This is Estelle. I bought a doll head from Dixie Redmond and a body pattern from Edyth O'Neill. 

The clothing ,2 dresses, under things, 2 bonnets and a wool cape and bonnet ,are all my patterns.

She is oil painted

I had forgotten how much I enjoy making doll clothes.

 

I finished a table topper from an on line mystery quilt pattern design by Kathleen Tracy.

I also finished a Bear, made from one of Tom's flannel shirts, for a grandsons birthday. 

Spring is on the way. Grass mowed for the first time, but the weather is chilly and very windy here in Iowa.

 Let me see if I can remember how to do this and post pictures.I have been making bears from Tom's old flannel shirts, leisure suit and his FFA jacket. So much fun to be sewing again.I will share more bears soon.

 My heart is heavy with all that is happening in our United States. I fear for the young. 

I have put my trust in God to see us through all that is happening. I ask for strength and peace of mind in all the turmoil.  

I read one of the blogs I follow by Jenny of ELEFANTZ.  It is a post she made in March 17th of 2019 I quote her 

"Today there is a constant sense of 'urgency to reply now' when hearing the beep of a mobile phone text, a messenger request or opening a list of emails - things my generation did not know of twenty years ago."

 She was right then and true for today also. I am going to try to return to slower times doing things I enjoy.

When my Tom wanted to buy a computer I said "computers will be the ruination of the world". I believe I was correct, they have invaded every aspect of our lives.

I am going to take back a bit of the olden days.

Sewing, gardening (house plants) and some doll ,bear making. What time I have left on this earth should be enjoyed.

I had amaryllis last year that had 11 flowers, This year one of the bulbs I bought has 12 blooms. The 2nd bulb was slower and is just  ready to open.

The red was 2019 

2020

I have enjoyed them during these past month. Not much happening--- with my doing any crafting. Hope to change that soon. It is 69 days till spring. Counting down the days.Plans for container gardens again this year.  Blessing so you all J

 It has been a very long time since I posted here. Life is changed for me and most everyone I know because of the virus. 

I continue much as I have since Tom died in 2016. My 2 four legged kids are my reason to get up each day. The days go by and soon the week is done then another month.Already the last day of Oct. 2020.

We are going into winter here in Iowa. Soon the snow will come and I will be staying in doing what I love to do. No dolls, made, for a long time. Perhaps the mojo will come back. Today I ran across a doll maker Anna Saterstrom. She makes dolls that touch my heart. https://www.etsy.com/people/annasaterstrom. Perhaps this is the motivation I have been looking for.

 I have been busy sewing 1 1/2 x 7 inch strips together to do a small quilt. It is mindless sewing and I enjoy listening to a book while I sew. This kind of sewing is so very calming in this world of chaos.

I have gone through 4 small totes of scraps. Hurrah for me! 46 blocks done. 

I seem to spend a lot of time on the lap top. Not very constructive nor creative. Perhaps it is time to get back to blogging.

I will try. Blessing to you all if there is anyone still reading here. j

It has been a very long winter. Not much sewing going on.The sunroom building process has taken 7 months due to late fall start and bad weather. The inside is done and it is really amazing.  The old screen porch was built maybe 25 years ago. DH and I tore down an old hog house and used the wood from that to build the frame. It sits on the south side of our house on the short end of the L shaped deck we built maybe 40 years ago. The new build is bigger with 4 large windows and a sliding door. The picture shows the south and east wall. Fireplace in the north east corner. I only have this picture to share tonight. I loved my old screen porch but the roof needed repair and once we got into it there was more to do than we thought. Because it had to be all torn off I decided to go with a vaulted ceiling to give an appearance of a bigger space. We also extended the west side 3 feet out into the long arm of the L shaped deck and 18 inches to the east. The room is now 10' by 18 feet. There will be a 5 1/2 ' deck running across the south side in front of the deck doors which will lead down to the patio. The weather has thrown off construction of the new decking.Rain for the next couple of days. At least it is not the snow they are getting up north.Funny weather for April. The rest of the covered deck will be screened in. It will be so nice to sit there and not fight the bugs. I will share more pictures of the whole build once I figure out this stupid-- i pad-- i phone, camera program. It was so easy with the picture program I had on my dell computer.
A few days ago I saw a picture of a crocheted bunny tea cosy. I do not crochet. I really like the bunny so decided to design one from fabric. I used an old pillow case I have had for years and years. It was made from feedsack fabric and hand done lace. She turned out cute. It will make a nice decoration for spring.

Hi to you all.

I have not been on for a while again. Life is at a slow pace. I have lots of ideas but no follow through. The hot humid weather does it to me each year. I am truly ready for fall. I have posted many things I like on my pinterest pages. Have a look. One of my favorites this time a year is All things pumpkin. Lots of fall ideas. j
https://www.pinterest.com/clothdollmaker6/

Wow it has been a long time since I posted to my blog. Not sure anyone is still looking. Life has been ever changing and not always what we want. Losing Tom after 55 years has been an adjustment that is the hardest thing I have ever had in my life. I continue on doing everyday things that are necessary. It has only been in the last month that I really WANT to do anything. Unfortunately I twisted my back/leg and can't do the things outside I need to do. Hiring people to do those things has been a challenge. I get someone then they find another more permeant job and I have to search again. I am grateful for those that have helped me out and glad for them but at 72 I can not do all I want to do. My 4 legged children keep me going each day. I enjoy my flowers and spend way to much time on the computer. So go my days. Pray good things for you all. j

So much going on there seems to be no tie to blog. The work on the area between the garage and the shop is cleaned out. The block is laid.Makes a nice walkway. I am adding pots of flowers. it will be an ongoing project. All the flowers are planted for the patios, deck and yard. I am still looking for someone to take away the dirt in the old veg.garden spot. Still have the garden shed to clean out. Hosta garden needs a good wack. So much to do. Today the weather is perfect to work outside. I better get back to it.I will post pictures when I get more done.j

Not a lot going on here. Made a couple of doll dresses.Waiting for spring.j