Finished Objects trickling down

 crochet cat / kitty toy  

(Available: mariemeyer.etsy.com )

'whale shark' woven sketchbook and pens pouch

I was working on keeping my mind off other things, so I started finding things that needed some work on them.

on the finishing table : crochet orange / yellow / gray striped rug (just have to tie up ends)

in progress : pink cat and grey sheep small knit toys (might be a bit on those)

January Jumpstart Day Five

The best pencil box ever

This is the most amazing pencil box, ever.  It has a useful easel and three drawers with lots of partitions and little locks on the side.  If I needed to I could lock everything down, grab it by the handle and go.

vintage books and vintage sewing patterns

I've posted these books and sewing patterns on mariemeyer.etsy.com   A 1963 fishing book with amazing illsutrations including color fly fishing lure plates and knot tying.  

Then there is the McCall 7302 sport dress from 1948, of which I made the skirt once and loved it.  It can be very hard to find those patterns in the larger sizes of today - and this one is bust size 38.  

And Simplicity 6824 girls size 7 wardrobe which has a wonderful pants pattern, that can be made into shorts, and a short or long sleeved shirt.


We read this Total Money Makeover together last summer and it had a lot of really good information. 

Did some little paint sketches tonight on some loose hexagon tiles

Monday business day

2015-1-26
9:30 - greenhouse operations,
---plant maintenance - the parsley is up!
---discussion of what someone would be able to buy her plants for
9:45 - discussion of making toys, materials, discussion of patterns, shops, 'make to order' and so forth
---math about supplies and prices
10a  - break to go to town

11:30a - Lowes, making calls, getting card signed for friend who is leaving our store, conversations with coworkers about homeschooling, what Esme likes and doesn't, her new shoes, plans, drawing etc etc...

One lady customer walking by said 'Sick, are we, home sick from school today?'...  We said, no homeschool - this is a field trip to talk to people, ask questions, listen to me make some calls and then go home and do our other things.  She said 'Oh'.. shot her husband a 'really now, would you look at that...' look, but walked on.

-----reading and using the vending machine by herself, 'breaktime'  I offered to pay for chips to split, but she really wanted a drink, found one she could afford (by reading the signs) and paid for it out of her own purse.

-----hard lesson (offer to pay for piece of brass fitting)  She didn't know what it was, and didn't know why she couldn't have it because it was lying on a shelf behind a display in a dust pile.. but STILL...and she tried to lie about not having anything in her pocket, so I pressed the morality of it.  I asked the store manager to price it for her, and made her pay for it.

         Even if it is trash, even if you don't know what it is.. if it's in a store and not yours, don't take it unless you ask or offer to pay for it.  That is stealing, and it is wrong. 

12:30 break to get back in car and go uptown

1p - supplies @ Dollar Tree and WalMart, post office

2p - lunch and association word game (her choice)
-----She would say a word, then I would say a word to go 'with' it, and we would decide if it was funny, a good match or a bad match for the word.  I was impressed by her choice and she had a lot of good ones.
2:30 break

3p - feeding chickens and puppy vaccinations (disc. watching Daddy give them to the puppies)
-----opening comic books that came in the mail, reading Power Pack 1985 with help
4p - break

//She also helped Daddy open a package of ground beef and split it up into six sections and deliver one section of it into a pot for him, which will be our dinner tonight (sloppy cheeseburger). We discussed the hard lesson with Daddy, as well.

She does feel very accomplished for the day, and has put her comic books (with my urging) into a fold-a-file so dogs and cats and other things can't get to them but she can have them by her TV to read.  I really hope this encourages her to read more and want to read about what happens to the four kids in the Power Pack.  We had gotten one issue at a flea market stand last year and she has read and re-read it so many times, amazed at the kids having powers and being siblings.

I have some planes to make tonight!  And we have flea market in the morning.

New items in the KnitOwl shop

At the KnitOwl shop for 2015 at mariemeyer.etsy.com

It's the time of year I am buying seeds for our garden, and Esme's greenhouse endeavors now, and also getting other items ready for the flea market we go to throughout the year.  Our Blue Black Shackamaxon beans did very well this year, and we will be selling packets of them with some free surprises of other varieties I have been growing.  And the Alien Monster Dolls are back up for sale with the octopi and the planes.  These are made to order toys and I will have to fit them into our schedule to sit down at the machine and make a few here and there.

Seeds:

Florida Speckled Lima Beans (Butter Peas)

Blue Black Shackamaxon pole beans

Brown speckled Whipporwill cowpeas 

and limited supplies of White climbers, White speckled climbers, Ireland Creek Annie, Tongues of Fire, Kenearly Yellow Eye and Tennessee Greasy beans.

What are we planning for the garden this year? 

I have decided to forgo all curcubits and other zucchini other than Tromboncino squash, which I've *heard* the squash bugs don't like.. in hopes of cutting down their numbers.  We will be going forth with the Principe Borghese tomatoes and Black Prince.  And of course.. I can't put myself into a box yet on the beans -- there will be some planted, probably many.. but it is to be determined. 

Monday Tuesday and blue octopus

 I'm at work this week.  Esme got up very early this morning and showed great attitude getting her things ready to go to town.  We are reading Charlotte's Web, and will do another chapter or two tonight after a bit.  Last night after I got home I got into my sewing and reduced the octopus pattern to see how long a smaller one.

 6 inch diameter head and 9 inch original

The blue one is for sale at at the KnitOwl Workshop

Esme and I also tried to make enchiladas tonight.  I know it will take work to 'get it right', but it was very edible.  She ate some - it is like ravioli, but with chicken in it.  I put jalapeno sauce and sour cream on mine and even just one (and a half, because of the edges of Esme's - I made four tortillas worth) was too much food!  I put the other two away for lunch at work.

2015-1-6

7.30a    - Town, shopping price comparisons, observing trains
8a    - break
9.30a    - PE (30x 10lb squats, 30x 5lb leg lifts, 20x 5lb R&L curls,
      30x sit ups, 50x jumping jacks)

10a    - vocabulary words
10.30a    - Liberty's Kids (ep 23, 24, 25)
11.30a    - break

1.20p    - vocabulary words discussion
1.45p    - english grammar test app
2p    - Tynker app
2.30p    - break

Charlotte's Web: 'Summer Days' chapter 6 and on..   Listening, recounting story, discussion

---------------------------------------------
2015-1-5

9.30a    - Paper Doll construction
10a    - PE (50x 10lb bench, 50x jumping jacks, 30x 10lb squats,
      40x sit ups, 60x 10lb bicurls)
10.30a    - Tynker app
11a    - break

11.15a    - pbskids.org

12.30p    - Liberty's Kids (ep 21 &22)
1.15p    - pbskids.org
1.45p    - Toca Pet Doctor
2.15p    - done

Felt airplanes ready to zoom off

An order for the toy shop, ready to zoom off in the mail tomorrow

Esme quotes:

So, you are working for the toy aisles at the (WM) now, instead of for the (store)?

Are you making the toys for children, like Santa does for Christmas?

They have two children, not one, right?

I don't like the boring over there (at the sewing table)...(after seeing them packed away and she didn't get to play with them).

List of new toys she would like.. and I might get time for them...

A set of three baby ducklings for her duck, preferredly green and yellow.

A pink unicorn hand puppet with a white belly and horn (she was specific.. apparently she has seen one)

One of these planes in pink and purple, but mostly the purple.

The list may sound a little demanding, but I get really good ideas from her.. she endeared me to the thought of the ducklings by saying they should be just the right size to tuck under the mama duck's wings.  And all this time making him I was thinking him the bachelor.. even the tailor sometimes is unawares, huh?  (Too much Pratchett)

I have been having a completely unfounded hankering to make an 'old style' rag doll again with old fashioned embroidered hair and face... I remember the one I made when I worked at Michaels and embroidered my name across the back and the date - and then gave it to a little girl of a lady who worked there who fell in love with it.

She was home today and was a ball of wax, as usual... Kindergarten has really changed her attitudes to nearly everything, and some of it not for the better.  But, she turned around pretty well at least by noon - and stopped being such a drama queen.  She brought me my glasses when I was sewing and made several comments... played Minecraft and tried to build a zoo (when she was still in her cranky stage) and even told me at one point that she loved green beans (by which I wondered if I had a changeling!) which precluded her walking dinner drinks upstairs for us and being quite lovely most of the rest of the night...  She read her Spiders book Grandma gave her for her birthday and did extremely well.  It is Lexile 380, and she only had a word or two she didn't know.

birds and peas

I'm working on more little birds for the shop. I have a set of bluebirds and a set of chickadees nearly done.

This is the wreath I brought home from work - Esme says it is 'beautiful Christmas.' It smells nice, too! 

Wando sweet peas I am selling a few ounce packages of these 

as I got a lot of them from a local vendor. 

I'm including one of the little birds in each package, as well.

Tomorrow is Mark's birthday, and also the 'visit Santa' day at my work - I have the wekekend off, so we are taking Esme and Grandma out to town.  I hope to get some of these peas in the ground in my garden soon as well, it says they can germinate in 40 degrees and above, but will take longer to do so the lower the temperature is.  They are very cold AND very drought tolerant.

KnitOwl shop items

Christmas Deer coming into the shop as my work schedule allows... they stand up so nicely with the new felt feet.  Each one will be a little different.  KnitOwl family shop

I am busy knitting more for the shop, too... the blue and white scarf is coming along nicely.  The brown and white one is up and ready to go.  This was Jojoland 'Rhythym' wool yarn, the same thing I had made my sleeveless sweater out of last year.

And a shot of Esme for Grandma...   After school the other day... She got gloves and had practiced well to put them on.

Bag organizers now in the KnitOwl Etsy Shop

Two types of simple bag organizer for sale in the KnitOwl Etsy shop.

Keep those important items from migrating to the bottom of the purse or from wandering around your workspace with the help of little hands etc...

There are a few things like this on Etsy that are almost like putting a second purse inside your purse - when really just a few things need to be kept track of.


Tall for scissors, pens and crochet hooks.


Horizontal for cell phone, lipstick, tweezers, nail clippers etc...

There will be a few other longer and more complicated sizes later - and working on a few other organizational boxes and booklets etc. Come see the shop!

White puppy soft toy 9 inches tall

I'm getting back in my old groove again. I sat down last night and cut out a 'sample' pattern from scratch for this little guy. Originally supposed to be a kitty - kind of looked like a bear, but upon seeing the pictures of it Esme said 'white doggie!' She also tried to put a dog leash on it and drag it off but I didn't let her. It is safe in a mailing box waiting for a new home and new adventures to go off to. Decoration only, stays sitting up position 9 inches tall. Hand embroidered face with black thread and black felt eyes and nose.

in the shop

feeling like green

I went to Mockingbird Threadworks on Friday afternoon, and bought a few green fabrics to make Esme another dress. Yes, before I even put the size 5 together. What? Why? I really wanted another color green. I didn't need it - but I had the fabric itch.. to go and feel the fabric in person and compare colors. I had tried it online and just felt like I wasn't getting inspired or anywhere else either. Maybe I'm flaking out ;) The store only had a quarter yard of the fabric I really really liked. I bought another yard of something coordinating and hope I'll get a size 4 out of combining the two. The darts are finished in the front of the size 5 and I've been taking little scraps of blue fabric to work to make into cats on my lunch hour... cutting freeform and not following any pattern -- just to keep my mind active.

Also on Friday Mark helped me take the sewing machine apart again and find where it was squeaking. I ended up cleaning it quite a bit again, too. It now runs without any squeaks... which is a little eerie considering how I've gotten used to at least some noise from it! Three in one oil is a wonderful tool.

Esme had such fun playing 'tea' and petting the ceramic kitty at the store. Jean, the owner, was really genuine in her interactions with Esme. She talked to her and listened to her and showed her books and agreed things were pretty. Between Mark and Jean I actually took a breath and looked at all the fabrics I wanted to before making a choice - sometimes I usually feel I must rush and settle for something so as not to spend so much time... ie: give the toddler a chance to throw a fit when Mom's attention is elsewhere etc... you know how it goes. Mark and Jean talked with Esme and I wasn't afraid she would start getting into things she shouldn't under Daddy's watchful eye. It turns out Jean also did the hat monogram for the baseball hat Mark wears everywhere. She worked years ago at the store that made the specialty monogram - and still had a copy of it in her computer files... *whoa*... I guess unique makes for memorable.

I feel bad I won't go more often to the store to buy - especially since it is right there in Huntingdon. She does carry more 'seamstress' and children's designer fabrics than the other quilt shop in Camden does. That is the main reason I've been there three times in a few months... and do plan on returning, but only when I really get the itch to touch, compare and find a fabric I can't get anywhere else and don't want to wait for/pay shipping. She has a small shop, but definitely a treasure and one I hope stays in our community.

It Came from Outer Space

Alien Monster Doll by KnitOwl Toys

So many aliens! Just a note that we have nearly reached max capacity for holiday orders. The desk is a virtual cloning lab full of eyes, mouths and stuffed aliens.

CHRISTMAS ORDERS (custom make to order) will be halted on December 10th at midnight. We are also out of Turquoise color. Thank you to everyone and have a wonderful Christmas holiday!

Note: Ready-to-ship items in the store will still be available for Christmas shipping until December 15th.

Alien Invasions continuing this holiday season...

at the KnitOwl Toy Shop

All the usual suspects have been rounded up, thread, scissors, felt and stuffing for the holiday season crush. The KnitOwl is working in her workshop four days straight!

Local Fabric store treasure trove found in McKenzie, TN!

I was told by a customer where I work that there was a fabric store in McKenzie, a town very close by. I was so surprised! Robertson's Decorating Center is located on Highway 423 in McKenzie, TN, not far from Paris and Huntingdon. It has remnants of thousands of types of upholstery, decorator and bedding fabric. I took Esme there today and she ran all over with me while I looked at the various remnants and rolls of fabric in several rooms. They also had trim, ribbon, pillow forms and lining fabrics. I am amazed this store was in my backyard and I had never heard of it. By the time Mark came back from the feed store Esme was very tired and ready for home! She was rewarded for being such a good girl by a hamburger of her very own for dinner tonight.

I will definitely be back there soon to buy more. Now to see what I can do with the lovely thick cotton fabrics I purchased there today.

On another note: I have orders rolling in for the handmade toy shop and am being kept quite busy!

Artwork: Automatic drawings

Phoenix

These drawings start with a few ink dashes put down on paper to the rhythym of a song. Then I slowly fill in the areas that look like something to me, until there is a full image and no dashes left over (hopefully). This is a style I have been working on for well over ten years. Usually animals, people and plants show up, but also some symbols that have come to have meaning for me.

We are currently gathering and posting these drawings at Pen Strokes etsy shop.


Rabbit Dancer Woman

Toy Airplanes Soft Plush Toys

Toy Airplanes At the KnitOwl Toy Shop

More soft toy airplanes that are fun to swoop and fly through the air. Pretend you're a pilot or let Godzilla bat them down and eat them...

WORK: Another long day today, always moving, barely any time to stop in between things. They I say I'm picking things up fast, which is good... But it is hard on the back, and the machines never ever stop - so if you fall behind you have to work three times as hard to catch up. The receptionist at the temp agency said they may ask me to stay on at the end of the week. I'm promised to stay on until Friday. Things might get easier. My muscles still hurt from yesterday so that could be part of it. It's also a 47 mile round-trip to get there and back from our house. I'm going to seriously consider the gas mileage it takes to get there and see if maybe I can't do better somewhere closer to home or at home again. Not many other nearby cities will be much better, considering our location out in the back woods.

Esme gave me one of her 'muppet grins' when I got home. She was crawling a little on the floor today and Mark took her for another walk to check the mail today. She is now sleeping peacefully in her chair, a contented little girl.

Crafting365: day 31: Citrus stripes Zebra (and more to come)

A brightly colored Zebra baby toy with a little collar in a matching fabric. I need to stack up a few of these in different fabrics for MamaMade too.

MamaMade was featured on Music City Bloggers!

Back to the shop... I have so much to get done!

Crafting365: day 30; Multicultural custom Rag Dolls

The first few dolls in Almond and LT1 skin colors
I now have seven different skin tones to make my custom Baby sized rag dolls in. I'm working up a few in each color for MamaMade. A previous customer had asked me about a different skin color for a doll for her friend's baby. I had a few different choices but none of them were quite what she wanted. I went out to town today and picked up a few more to fill in the gaps from light to dark. I think this will really add to the 'make-your-own-custom' quality of these little dolls.

I also got a really great review today on these dolls 'Stands up to the vigor of playing with a 1 year old' YAY! I love to hear the toys I make are loved AND durable. Another customer sent a beautiful picture of her 3 month old baby girl asleep with her hand around her red-haired dolly. I'm smiling from ear to ear :)


Rag doll skintone chart

Custom Soft Toys available at KnitOwl shop

Custom make-to-order baby toys in the KnitOwl shop.



1. Mousebears : Machine washable soft baby toys
2. Custom rag dolls for babies in your choice of hair color
3. Custom horse softies and zebra toys
4. Choose your own colors pairs of Alien Monster dolls
5. Machine washable cotton bunny toys

Quintuplets

I had a productive night in the workshop. These five dolls came from start to finish very quickly. Two of these are going for a custom order at the toy shop. I'm also giving one to Esme and the other two are the start of a stack of items being made for the MamaMade craft sale in April.

Rant: I had sent this doll pattern to a lady I'm making a MUCH more complicated pattern for. This lady makes baby clothes for her craft business. She said she tried to make a doll and couldn't do it... which has discouraged me on her other pattern some. The complicated pattern has FOUR three-point seams and I'm having trouble with it myself. If she can't do a pancake doll then three-point seams are going to be extremely difficult for her!

Mark even tried his hand out and made a 'frankenstein' doll using the pattern. If he can come out with a relatively doll-shaped creature from those instructions, I have no idea why this other lady can't. Mark doesn't touch a sewing machine often, and he did a fairly good job. After seeing him make his and then making five more right in a row... I'm convinced it IS a simple pattern, even at this small size. Maybe she isn't ready for the complicated pattern at all.

Note: Esme weighs 13 lbs, 2 oz now. She has learned how to make the 'pbbbt' noise and has been cheerfully raspberry-ing us for the past two days ;)