Can't Stay Caught Up

I know this is becoming a constant theme with me and I'm sorry to keep on about it, but I can't seem to get organized with my blogging and my Etsy shop.  I can't find a good routine and time schedule to get it all done.  I still have my two grandsons 3 days a week, so that isn't helping.  Next week I will only have them for 2 days and then their mother will be done working.  I think then I'll miss having them and will still ask to have them visit a few times a week.  Then week after next my DIL and 4 month old granddaughter, Riley, will be home from Spokane for 2 weeks.  I can't wait to see them.  Anyway, it's all for good reasons that I don't have more time and I won't give any of it up.  The only answer is to not sleep.

I did manage to get some knitted  fingerless gloves finished and listed on Etsy.  I have a matching scarf that I think I'll be listing today.

I also just made a mini quilted change purse.  I call this one "Guardian Angel".  It's about 4" square with a velcro closure on top, and it's lined.  I loved making these little mini squares and then making them into something.

I'll probably get this listed on Etsy tomorrow. 

I am also trying to finish up a pink baby sweater for Riley to have ready when they get here.  And Dee (DIL) asked me if I had the second green booty finished to match the sweater set I made before she was born.  The answer was, "No".  I have to finish this within the next week and a half, too, because Dee wants to get Riley's picture taken in this outfit I made while she's here.  I'm so flattered by that so that needs to get done.

See what I mean, one booty.  O.K. so I'm overwhelming myself by writing this all down. 

If I could just hole up for the next several days with no one bothering me, no cooking, cleaning, etc. I think I could do it.  Realistically that's not going to ever happen. 

Gotta get busy with all this.  Right now, though, I have to go blow the leaves off the driveway. 

Tired of Pillows

I'm watching Design Star finale. I'm not sure who I want to win. I guess I'm leaning toward Dan. So I'm going to get off this computer and knit while I watch the show.
Since this was the first weekend in a month that we've been home the entire weekend, I used the time to sew. I seem to be on a little pillow kick right now. I finished this 10" square little one today for Fall. I love the rich colors on it. The pumpkin is pieced like a small crazy quilt and I embellished with embroidery by hand. The quilting was done by machine.

Here is the back of the pillow.

I just listed it on my Etsy shop.

I'm tired of sewing for a little while, so back to the knitting needles. I may even actually have to go to bed earlier than usual tonight. I'm just plain tired.

To Be a Business, Or Not To Be

Time, time, time! I wish I had more of it. I just have so many projects I'm working on and then so many more in my head. I overwhelm myself. I really need to get myself better organized. I started this Etsy shop, but I don't feel like I'm being serious enough about it. I haven't sold anything yet, and now it's becoming a "why, what's wrong" type of thing. You know, just the principle of it. I don't need to support a family or even myself, for that matter, but I need to feel like it's worth my time. I just read a good blog by http://studiomme.blogspot.com and she gave some very good organizing tips. I did just have these cards made up. I designed it and had a local printer friend print them for me. I was happy with how they turned out. So I'll just keep sewing and knitting because I love to do it, but I am going to also become a little more business minded about the whole thing.

I still need to fit in the grandson babysitting for two weeks starting this Sunday evening, helping My Bob with his business, cleaning, cooking, laundry, and decorating the house here and there (which is also another hobby I enjoy), and the travelling we enjoy doing when possible. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining one little bit. I have a great life and very much appreciate that I can do all these things that I love to do. There just aren't enough hours in the day. Trying to be a perfectionist in all that I do takes extra time, but it's the only way I know how to do things.

I just finished this little pumpkin pillow for Halloween. I posted it on Etsy yesterday. I don't personally do much decorating for Halloween and I don't do orange, but I know a lot of people do. I prefer to decorate more in a Fall/Harvest type theme in golds, greens, and burgundys. Anyway, this little pumpkin was fun to make. The pillow is about 9" square and the pumpkin itself is about 4" square with approx. 37 pieces of fabric in that 4" square. I trimmed in black lace.

Here is the back of the pillow. I have a velcro closure on it and stuffed with Poly Fil.

I have Fall/Autumn pillow ideas in my head right now so that is probably my next project.

I'm also working on a knitted black sweater for oldest son, Austin. This was a special request from him and I'm just thrilled that he would wear something made by his mother. He's 28 years old. I guess I shouldn't get too excited yet. It's not done and there's no guarantee he'll like it or wear it. Oh well, at least he made the request.

Pouch and Hat

Another Etsy listing. I knit this little pouch last year and it's just been put away in a cupboard. That's why I've decided to start selling some of my things. I don't know what to do with everything I make. This little cutey was knit from wool and then washed several times to felt it. I knit holes into it for the cord so it can be pulled almost closed. Aren't the beads pretty? I bought those at a great bead store in Lancaster.

Just finished knitting this little "Ring Around the Rosy" hat. This was a lot of fun to knit. About every six rows is a different pattern. The yarn is called "Mini Mochi" and it is 80% merino wool, 20% nylon and is washable. It's a very soft, light yarn.

Here's a close-up showing the patterns.

This is the top. Tonight I just finished knitting a little purple rose with beads on it to pin onto the side of the hat. It's late, so I'll get a picture of it later and put it up. I haven't decided yet whether to sell this or not.