Nicey Jane Baby Rag Quilt/ Christmas Tree Hat

This is another rag quilt that I made for my Etsy shop. The fabric is called Nicey Jane by Heather Bailey. I think it would make a nice quilt for a baby, or small child. It might also look nice draped across a chair, bed, or couch. I will be making a ton of these rag quilts for my shop because I enjoy making them, and people seem to like buying them.

Another part of our shop on Etsy is dog hats. We sell a lot of these, and it has been a real blessing. We took this picture the other day to put in our shop. I thought it was just too cute. The model's name is Pickles, and she is my mom's Pug. My two Pugs, Jellybean and Pumpkin, will not wear any of these hats. 

The home inspection went really well. Thank you so much for all of the good wishes. Now we are just waiting for everything to come together through finances, and if everything does go well then we settle on November 30th. All very exciting! 

I hope to be able to do more cross stitching once everything settles down. I am still working on some Christmas presents, but I am almost finished, and I will be sure to take some pictures when I am finished. 

Thank you! 

Peppermint Girl 

Monday

Hi all,

I have just been working on my Christmas ornaments the last few days. I have three more to stitch, and then I need to finish all of them.

We are under contract with another house, and the inspection is on Wednesday. We love this house, so hopefully no cracks in the foundation this time!

I ordered 4 new patterns from Littlehouse Needleworks today. I am hoping that I will have a more productive year in 2012 for stitching. My problem is that I like to make everyone gifts, even though I know they do not care for them. I don't take enough time to stitch the patterns that I really like for me.

I am so sad about the controversy surrounding Penn State. I hope everyone realizes that it is only a few people and not the whole community. I have seen a lot of negative comments directed towards the students, and let me assure you that they had nothing to do with the situation.

Well I am so tired right now, so I am going to go rest.

Peppermint Girl

Trying to Buy our First Home

So, just in the past two weeks, my husband, Nate and I have begun the process of buying our first home. We never thought in a million years we would be able to do this, especially being fresh out of college, and because of the downward slope the economy. However, we have been given the opportunity in the past few months to pursue our dreams of owning our very first home...

Last Thursday, we went to look at three town homes. Two were terrible, and one was extremely nice on both the inside and outside. We put in an offer, it was counter-offered, and we accepted. We were so excited, but nervous for the inspection that would take place on Tuesday. We get there on Tuesday, and find out that the little deck in the back yard has a slope in the middle, and that it does not have anything actually holding it down or into the ground. When we found this out, we were a little sad that we would have to lose the deck, but the rest of the inspection went really well...and we were at the very end...and then we found out there was a crack in the foundation- EEK! We were told that it was a superficial crack, and that we should have a professional come out and look before we walked away. We left that day very discouraged, but thought we might as well get the professional out there. The next day we get a call that a town home right around ours had the same problem, and it cost $35,000 to fix. Hearing the news we decided to walk away. We were disappointed, but we found an even nicer town home in our price range, and we are looking at it tomorrow. Keeping our fingers crossed!

In crafting news...
I am working on another rag quilt for my shop Sweethoots. This one is smaller then the previous one, and would make an adorable baby shower gift, or make a nice security blanket. Of course I forgot the camera today, so no pictures :(, but hopefully soon!

Have a great day!
Peppermint Girl

Lily and Will Baby Rag Quilt

I finished this quilt about a week ago, and it's now on my Etsy shop for sale, (sweethoots.etsy.com).

Jellybean, my pug, decided that she wanted to model this quilt. I think she did a really great job! 

 I have to get back to work on the rag quilt I am making now. 

Have a good day! 

xoxo,

Peppermint Girl

A Year in the Life of...

We are closing in on 2011, and I have finally finished my parent's Christmas present. I started February, 24, 2011, and ended October 25, 2011. This project took me such a long time because of all the changes that have taken place in my life. I can honestly say when this year began, I never believed that I would be where I am today. I will not bore you with the details right now, but it really has been an amazing year, both good and bad. 

This pattern is by Historical Sampler Company, and it was a really fun piece. I cannot wait to give it to my parents on Christmas morning. 

Happy Stitching! 

xoxo,

Peppermint Girl

Snowflake Ornament 2011

I am making 37 of these for family and friends this Christmas. The pattern is from andwabisabi.etsy.com, and it was stitched on white 16 count aida. I include the 2011 into the pattern. I finished it with the fabric shown, and stuffed with Polyfil. I am thinking it would make a nice ornament. So far I have 5 stitched, and 2 finished, so I have a LONG way to go. I hope I can complete all of them.

Have a good day!

xoxo,
Peppermint Girl

Once Upon a Time Completed Cross Stitch Pillow

Here are a few pictures of the Christmas present that I made for one of my nieces. She is four years old, and LOVES the color purple. The pattern is from andwabisabi.etsy.com, Grace's patterns are so fun! I stitched the finished piece on white 18 aida cloth, and I finished it with purple with white polka dot cotton fabric. It's stuffed with Polyfil. I bought a Cinderella storybook, and plan on wrapping the two together when I give it to her.

Started: January 14, 2011

Finished: January 28, 2011

Design: andwabisabi.etsy.com

I hope she likes it! 

I finished the quilt that I am making for Sweethoots, but the soap I used was so strong smelling that I need to go back and rewash. It makes me queasy, not so good with a baby. Will include pictures. 

Have to go back to stitching! 

xoxo,

Peppermint Girl 

Stretched Too Thin

Five days have already past in October, and I can honestly say that I have stretched myself too thin. I have decided to put the bakery on hold for awhile because our shop, Sweethoots, is really taking off. There is not much to complain about there, but Halloween has proved to be a very busy time of the year.

I am finishing a rag quilt for my shop that is made with cream and light blue fabric from Lily and Will. Pictures soon, I need to rag it and then wash it a few times before it is ready to be sold. 

I am still working on a cross stitch pillow to give to my parents for Christmas. The pattern comes from the Historical Sampler. I am also working on a cupcake cross stitch pattern, to turn into a pillow for Sweethoots-don't know when this will be done because I do not have a lot of time to work on this. 

I plan on taking pictures of all of this tomorrow, and will hopefully have a new post with them. 

Of course, I need to get to work on the Christmas ornaments that I am making everyone this year, and I need to finish a cross stitch for my one niece and start another for my niece, Lily. This all has to be done in time for Christmas. Next year, I am starting sooner, and working harder! 

Have to go back to ragging this quilt! 

xoxo,

Peppermint Girl 

Charlotte the Black Cat

We got a new kitten a few weeks ago, and she is such a joy. We named her Charlotte after Charlotte Bronte because I am a huge nerd, and love Victorian literature. She is a black cat, and so beautiful. The lady who gave her to us found her all alone in a sewer. We are so happy to have her, and she is doing very well. She is getting along with our 2 pugs, but our one pug, Pumpkin can be a little rough,and it is worrisome.

Here is a picture of her on the first day that we got her.

She came to us with a cold, but that is completely gone, and she was about 3 pounds when she came to us, and I would have to say she is at least 4-5 pounds, which makes me a proud mama! I know she is getting the care she needs.

I finished my niece's quilt in time for her birthday party last Saturday, and she really seems to like it. The other day I went in to wake her from her nap, and she was all curled up with the blanket. I took some pictures of the fabric, but of course I forgot to take pictures of the actual quilt. If I can sneak it away from her for a few minutes one day, I will try to get some pictures.

The fabric for the rag quilt:

The fabric is by Joel Dewberry, and it is called AVIARY 2. Very pretty!

I am just working hard on Sweethoots, we have so many orders now. It is becoming overwhelming, but it is a good thing. I am also trying to get everything ready for Christmas, and that's how I spend most of my evenings.

Well I need to get some rest!

xoxo,
Peppermint Girl

Beautiful Blooming Flower

Today I spent most of the day working on a quilt for my Etsy shop, Sweethoots. Still haven't had the chance to take a picture of this fabric, but maybe once it is all done. I was having a horrible time with my bobbin today, and there were a few times where my sewing machine almost ruined my fabric :(.

I did finish this cross stitch, and was able to put it onto my Etsy shop. The pattern is called the intricate flower by andwabsabi.etsy.com <-- You should definitely check out her patterns because they are adorable, and a lot of fun to stitch.

The Blooming Flower- was stitched on 18 aida white cloth and framed in a 5" hoop. I actually made and gave four of these for mother's day presents this past year. One to my mom, grandmother, aunt and mother-in-law. They were a hit!

Here is the finished work:

 And here is a closer shot:

I think that it really came out cute. 

Well I am going to go because my husband should be off of work pretty soon, and I will be heading home to work on a present for my parents for Christmas tonight! 

xoxo,

Peppermint Girl

The Day after Labor Day

Yesterday was Labor Day, and today is the day after. Summer is officially over :(, and this year I didn't get a chance to go to Ocean City. Nate and I were supposed to this past weekend, but then we had to cancel due to reasons beyond our control. It was a nice weekend though, I worked on Christmas presents, and planned out the ones I hadn't made yet. We also went food shopping, birthday shopping for my niece, and went to see the movie The Help. The movie was really good, I haven't had the chance to finish the book, or get much into it for that matter. 

Today is another day crafting away, and taking care of the business. I got over to my parents house around 6:30 am, and packaged orders that need to go out later on today for Sweethoots. Right now I am working on some laundry, and then I will be quilting the rest of the day. The fabric I am using is awesome. It is from Lily and Will. I meant to bring the camera today, but forgot (of course!), to take a picture of the fabrics. Maybe I will be able to get to it tomorrow. 

I am also working on a cross stitch pillow for the shop that is a cupcake scene. It is really adorable, and it is by the Historical Sampler Company. I will put some pictures of that up to when I get a chance. 

Here is a cross stitched pillow that I made for my mom this year for her birthday. It is also a pattern from the Historical Sampler Company. I think it is adorable, and hope to be able to make it for my Etsy shop, Sweethoots some day soon! 

The front of the cross stitch pillow I made my mom for her birthday. 

 The back.

 How thick it is.

 I really love the way this pillow turned out, especially since it is my first cross stitched pillow. I wish I would have stuffed it some more though. 

I have also been baking a lot, trying to get ready to open a small online bakery in the near future. I made chocolate whoopie pies with marshmallow fluff, and chocolate chip whoopie pies with marshmallow fluff. I also made pumpkin, and gingerbread ones but my whoopie pie maker wouldn't cook them all the way through, so I think I will have to start from scratch for all of them. 

Here is the chocolate chip whoopie, it makes me very hungry. 

And here is the chocolate whoopie with marshmallow fluff, yummy! 

Like I said though I will have to go back over all of these and remake them for my bakery, so I can make a clear representation of the product. 

Well I am going to get back to work! 

xoxo,

Peppermint Girl