snowflakes and snowmen . . .

Last week we had snow overnight . . . this week we had tornadoes.  Weather in North Alabama is always a bit crazy.  We were very lucky and didn't experience any storm damage, and we were able to ride out the warning in the storm shelter under the new cabin in the campground.  It's the first time we've needed to put it to the test since it was build this past spring.  And the first time in the ten years we've lived at the camp that we haven't had to leave the premises to find shelter!  Phew!

I haven't really had much time to do much of anything besides go to parties and wrap presents.  I know, poor, poor, pitiful me, right?!  LOL!  I got a couple of minutes in to stitch on my Christmas snowflake:

I can't decide if I like the Sulky Stick 'n Stitch stabilizer yet. It's probably user error.  Anyone have any experience with it?

I can say that I love this in the metallics!  I'm using DMC's Diamant metallic floss for this one.

I love the green and the red and the shiny!! It's eye candy . . . hence the candy bowl.  Purdy! ♥

Joc has lamented on the lack of 'homemade' ornaments of Edith. She's the only one that hasn't gone to/needed to go to preschool, where they do those things!  So I helped out a little . . .

These will look sweet on their family Christmas tree!  I love playing with the die cuts and the laminating machine!

One party I'm really looking forward to is our annual Christmas Dessert Social at guild! 

This is tomorrow night -- and for the first time in forever, since I'm not on the board, I just get to show up!  (The board members provide the desserts.)  Plus I'm planning on bringing the three newly finished Christmas lap quilts in for Show 'n Tell!  Whoop!

Finally, I have a winner from last week's snowman giveway!  

The winner is Barbara Black, who commented, These are adorable! I would love to add a snowman to my quilt-y tree. So she totally will get to add it (the pink one) to her quilt-y tree!  Thank you to everyone who participated and especially those who became Pearl's Pegs followers!  :)

It's hump day ... yay for that!  Have a great rest of the week!

:)

i ♥ pearl's pegs . . .

I've been meaning to do this for a while now and today is as good a time as any, so here goes. And yes, it's a long post, lots of pictures, but I'll reward you for sticking with it to the end with a GIFTAWAY!

I wanted to share the amazing talents of my beautiful daughter.  She is a peg doll painter . . . 

Aren't these just the cutest of things? She's painted every Disney princess character there is!

Actually, she can paint pretty much anything. I adore this nursery rhyme set! And check out this set of Charlie Brown figures . . .

And the action figure heroes . . . 

I have a thing for Marvel! She's also done Star Wars and sports pegs, too.  Look at this fun set of college football pegs and see if you can guess the team!

Did you guess? Hint ... it's *not* my favorite college football team. LOL! I've gifted football pegs to both my bosses and they loved them!  But these are really the perfect toys for precious little hands . . .

Edith loves to play with the Nativity!

This is an absolutely beautiful set. I especially adore the cubby sheep and the camels that match the wise men! She also does a smaller unit of just the Holy Family. :)

The pegs are all hand-painted and non-toxic, so you don't have to worry about them going into mouths.  They're great for dollhouses or just imaginative play!  Joc created a set specifically for sensory bin use:

Perfect for toddlers who need busy play and enjoy the tactile activities.  Also perfect for learning colors! Edie will play for an hour with a bin like this, which is perfect for Joc as she's preparing a meal!

There's also a "Paint Your Own Pegs" kits she's put together, for artistic kiddos that like to do for themselves . . . 

Everything they need to paint their own peg family!  Pretty clever stuff!

Ellie certainly thought so ... she's pretty talented in her own right!  ♥

These make wonderful memory markers, too.  Joc does a LOT of custom painted peg dolls, especially of families (based off of photos/digital images) . . .

Isn't this a sweet little family of four?  Every time I see it, I want the mom's dress!  And what about this group of pretty ballerinas . . .

She does a lot of custom pegs of ballerinas to commemorate a recital!  Isn't that fun? My favorite is the little mousie from The Nutcracker!

She added ornaments to her repertoire this year, too.

I adore these! Of course, I also have a thing for snowmen!

If there are children or grandchildren (or great-grandchildren!) in your life that might enjoy some peg play--and I'll just go ahead and say it, who *wouldn't* enjoy some peg play?!--you can order from her Pearl's Pegs page on facebook or from her Pearl's Pegs account on Instagram.  It's fun to scroll through her IG and see all the fantastic photos!

I do have to caution that her Christmas orders are closed (so she can enjoy the season with her own family).  So NO new orders now, but she'll be taking new orders after January 10th!  

In the meantime, how about a giftaway?!

Jocelyn gifted me with two snowmen ornaments . . . one for me and one for YOU!   You have two chances to win.  The first chance is simple:  just leave me a comment on this post (you must leave me a way to contact you).  The second is to follow the link to Pearl's Peg on facebook or Instagram, and follow her on one of those two accounts.  Then leave me a comment telling me which one you followed, and under what name!  Easy-peasy! I'll leave this open until December 17th, then pick a winner and ship it quick, so you have it in time to put on your tree ... or in someone special's stocking!!

Ho ho ho!

:)

whirlwind weekends . . .

Y'all . . . whirlwind doesn't half describe the past two weeks! I was completely absent last weekend . . . but for very good reason!  Joc, Ellie and I traveled to the Northern Neck of Virginia for my niece Cecilia's wedding!

She was a beautiful bride and she had a very handsome groom, too!

The whole affair wore Miss Eleanor out.

LOL! This is post-wedding/pre-reception, while we waited for all the family pics to be taken. She perked up for the "party". . . she was very interested in the wedding cake. Her mommy was interested in the cream cheese mints we carried to Virginia for the party . . .

Poor Joc.  she had to travel 750 miles to get some more cream cheese mints!

We drove up on Friday, the wedding was on Saturday, and we drove back on Sunday. I'm telling you -- whirlwind. Monday was my baby girl's 30th birthday!

She is such a beautiful young woman -- I'm so proud of her! Speaking of which, I've been a little remiss in sharing something here. Joc has started up her own business called Pearl's Pegs.

Aren't these just darling? She does incredible work.

Ellie and Evey love them -- and already she's 4-6 weeks out on orders!  Yes, very proud of my girl!

Yesterday, Todd and I headed down to Shocco Springs -- the Baptist Retreat Center outside of Talladega, Alabama, for our annual Mission Service Corps Missionary Retreat and Training.  

We enjoy the beautiful grounds of the center *and* the great fellowship! Yesterday was also Kim's birthday . . .

She celebrated waaaaay far away in California -- the first of their birthdays to be celebrated out there! But Sawyer was not far behind . . .

He turned SIX years old today. Gosh, look how grown up he looks! Sweet fellow! Todd and I sang happy birthday to him and enjoyed some FaceTime. It was a bittersweet day . . . as much as I'm happy he's six and happy it's his birthday, it was sad to me that for the first time since he was born, I didn't get to at least give him a hug or kiss on his birthday.  *sniffle, sniffle* :)

I chased my blues away by doing a little shopping with Todd at Bass Pro Shops on our way home from Talladega. I got my first pair of Crocs!

LOL! These are so comfortable--why did I not know that?? Plus, they don't hit the scars on either side of my right foot, which are still (even after six years) very sensitive. Aaaand, these Crocs are really CUTE!  I may have to invest in a couple of more pairs. Haha!

I haven't done anything quilty in I don't know how long . . . and my stash report shows it, too.

Aaaah well . . . sometime in the next month or so I may get a free weekend to do something of significance!

I did manage to sneak enough time to cut out some Christmas fabric for another yo-yo ornament. I loved the tree so much, I'm going to do another one of those. I have the charms all ready to go, too.

This will make for the perfect slow Sunday stitching project!

Spring is finally making its way into the camp. As we drove up the drive today, I was happy to see that the daffodils were out in full force.

They have such sunny, sweet faces! We have one rogue yellow flower in the midst of the paler variety . . .

The little purple flowers are blooming all over the turtle sanctuary . . .

And the Lamb's Ear is starting to make sporadic appearances, as well:

And I do believe that about does it for me. A lot of pics and a lot of words...that's what happens when I don't blog for two weeks. I'll link up to Patchwork Times and Kathy's Quilts tomorrow! Don't forget to change your clocks tonight . . . Spring Forward!

:)