Family Time

Last weekend, we had a wonderful family visit with Bob’s son, Ron, and daughter-in-law, Mary Jo! The guys got to race RC cars together for the first time in over 40+ years—such a special moment! Thanks to Acprc in Burton for providing a great place for them to race. Arron also let them in to race by themselves, which was great!!! Of course, Bob was thrilled that he beat his son! HA Ron hasn't raced RC cars in years! They did enjoy bonding again!!!

Mary Jo and I enjoyed some retail shopping in downtown Ortonville, visited the Cottage Used Books in Goodrich, and wrapped up the day with a specialty coffee from ABeanToGo in Goodrich. We both love our coffee

Over dinner, we listened to the racing highlights—what a great experience for Bob and Ron! Since we don’t get to visit often, we cherish the memories we create when we’re together.

MaryJo gave me this lovely vase with tulips (fake - so they'll last from year to year). I love the vase...it's so unique!!

Kids live in Indiana so we don't get to see them very often. But they are great to take time out of their busy schedules and drive up to spend time with us. I know Bob really appreciated the time with his son. Ron is great and calls Bob every Sunday evening. AND  THEY TALK FOR OVER ONE HOUR AT LEAST! MaryJo and I have to laugh as we're not sure what or how they can talk to each other that long but they do!

We just had a great weekend with them!!!!!! More memories and MaryJo remembered to take a picture!!!!

Some progress and one completion!

 Yep, I'm still working on the weekly circle challenge!  Here are 10 & 11!

Dogma Rules week 10: 1. 1 piece of heavy watercolor paper or cardstock. Trace at least 3 circles in the same size, wherever you like on the paper. Cut the circles out. Pre-poke the holes. 2. Stitch the way I show you in the video on YouTube, or follow the diagram. I have no name for this kind of stitching. Do each circle differently, meaning different amount of poked holes between where you are coming up and down. 3. Use white or cream colored thread. 4. Free options. Paint your page in your book in a light color or glue a piece of colored paper on the backside of your embroidery.

Dogma Rules week 11: 1. 1 piece of light-colored fabric of your choice. Trace 1 circle with something erasable and divide the circle up into 5 different areas as you want. 2. Only sew the # stitch/ hashtag sting, 3. Use 5 different colors of threads as the color of your fabric, just different in value/ tones so they are visible. 4. Sew each of the 5 areas with one of the colors.

It's hard to see but there are 5 different color of yellow threads. The picture almost makes the top right look white...and the yellow I used in the center blends with the edge. Guess I need to redo or alter in photoshop.

AND I finished Susan's puzzle she gifted me for my birthday! WOOHOO! Now back to my regular scheduled program(s)! HA Thanks, Susan! I did gift this to my bud, Donna! She was working on a 1000 piece but said she gave up. She's looking forward to putting this one together! It really is a pretty puzzle! Thanks again, Susan!!

Other Progress....

 

Yep, I am working away on Susan's BD puzzle!  Some days I can't find a piece at all!  Other days I find quite a few and then I'm able to join together!  WOOHOO!

Funny how a little project can give you so much satisfaction!  HA  Thanks, Susan!!!

Not a very good picture of my sweater...but I'm making progress...I'll be putting sleeves on holders and then get to start on the body!  Finally!  

Just like the puzzle...I don't get to knit every day...30 min. here.. or 45 min. if I finish dishes early!  HA  I go in my sewing room and I don't come out until the evening news comes on with David Muir.  

I choose not to listen to the news all day long (as my hubby does!). Instead, I catch the local morning news and check in again before dinner. Of course, they always include national news—often depressing and disheartening.

This past week was a perfect example. Watching the exchange between Trump and Zelensky was sad, frustrating, and frankly, embarrassing. Moments like that remind me why I prefer to limit my exposure.

For now, I’ll keep my distance—until it’s time to research candidates and cast my vote. I don’t base my decision on party lines; I vote for the person, not the label. In the meantime, I’ll continue reading books and perspectives from both sides to stay informed. After all, the best I can do is educate myself and make my voice count at the ballot box.

Enough said...

Weekly Circle Challenge

Weekly Circle Challenge Progress:  

Dogma Rules Week 8: 1. 1 piece of fabric in one of your favorite colors. Trace 1 erasable circle or stitch on the traced line.

2. Use only blanket stitches / tungesting, so they are lying horizontal. Experiment with the stitch: long, short, wide, narrow rows, columns, or squares and so on.

3. Use the same color thread as your fabric has, but in other values/tones so the stitches are visible. Use many different fx. shiny, matt, textured threads. Thin knitting yarns is also an option.

 

Dogma Rules Week 9:

1. 1 piece of black fabric. Paint/print as many small circles as you want, on the fabric. Look at the video on how. Do them in the same color as your fabric color in week 8, or color of your choice.

2. Use only straight stitches. Stitch from line to line in each of the circles and from line to line in the space between the circles. Do the stitches random and as long or short as you want and as many as you like.

3. Use black thread for the circles and 2 of the colors you used in week 8, or 2 colors of your choice, in the space between the circles.

I have to say these are fun to do and EASY!  You can complete in the same day so you feel like you are accomplishing something.  Just a fun project and making the commitment to do something productive everyday is a nice benefit! 

Playing with my Gelli prints and booklet!

 

 My worktable downstairs...I had to pull out some of my older papers I made in Hilary's online class several years ago.  And I do have a ton of them!  It looks messy but I was picking and tearing papers!  

In one of my last posts I showed some gelli prints that I had made into a little booklet.  I haven't added any more papers to the booklet, yet but thought I would play with the ones I have already.

So this was my busy day just playing with collage pieces and prints.  Next I'll add some more papers to the booklet.  Just fun to feel like I am accomplishing something.  What will I do with the booklet!?  Keep it for my kids to toss when I'm no longer here!  HA  

Page on left is the actual gelli print.  The right side is with playing around with other printed papers.

I thought some of these prints were just too plain.  If I have some that I like as a gelli print, I'll keep.  But this was a fun exercise to do.  Nothing that exciting just fun That's All Folks!

Project(s) Progress

 

Well, I'm making S-L-O-W progress on the puzzle!  But it is progress, right!  I have to say I am enjoying the process and satisfaction you get when you find just one piece!  HA  Baby steps I know.  Thanks again, Susan!  I think!  HA

This is a really pretty puzzle picture for sure.  I love the colors and it would be really cool to replicate in a quilt!  OK, I think Susan could do a much better job making this into a quilt than I could.  So I'll try to encourage her to do it!  

Back trying to knit for 15-60 minutes at least 4 or 5 days a week.  I try after I've finished dinner/dishes, which is usually around 5-5:30.  I'll knit until the evening news at 6:30 or when the dogs leave me alone to do so!  I did return the pink yarn and choose this pretty gray/blue.  

I had to make up another cheat sheet for the rows on the front of the sweater.  It's too easy for me to get off count.  Too many interruptions and I'll lose my place for sure.  This sheet helps me keep on track.  

And I made over 15 more Christmas cards!  Woohoo!  It takes me about a day to stitch strips together and then sew over with a decorative stitch. 

 The next day, I fuse 808 Pellon on the back to give stability to the 'card' insert.  I still have to stamp on the back then insert in the photo card.  

I'm not sure how many I have but I did run out of the Pellon and black thread!!  A trip to JoAnn's is upcoming. These are more of the Charlie Harper fabrics.  

So I'm keeping busy...enjoying staying home so I don't really minds the snow!  

Lisbeth Circle Week 6 & 7

What I had in mind!  HA

Honestly, this isn't my favorite one to do!  I should have stopped sooner but I kept adding to the dang thing!  HA 

Dogma Rules Week 6: 1. Take inspiration from the planets and our solar system. 2. Use a black or very dark fabric. 3. Only use French knots and running stitches, double running stitches or back stitches. 4. Thread in white or a light color and in several thicknesses.

This was week 7 and I enjoyed this one!  HA 

1. Paint a piece of watercolor/card stock paper in a color you think looks like the night sky. Trace 1 circle and cut it out. 2. Poke/punch holes totally random, as many and in any size you like. Look at the video for an idea to place the holes totally random. 3. Only use cast over stitches/kastesting around the holes. 4. Thread in white, off white or a beige.color, flat or a little thicker ones works best.

I'm sure ya all are wondering "why do this?". Heck, I'm not really sure but these are so easy to do. It's only once a week and nice to see you are able to accomplish something. I really enjoy Lisbeth's YouTubes. She has so many interesting textile/medium projects to do. She's an inspiration for sure. check her out!

Lisbeth Circle Week 5

So this wasn't a fun one but I did finish for week 5!  

The circle background was blue painted watercolor.  We played with a design on graph paper, then punched holes in a circle from the watercolor paper. 

Well, I didn't like the holes I ended up punching so I just started sewing!  HA

These are the rules for this week:

Dogma Rules:

1. Cut 1 circle out of watercolor paper. Paint the circle in the same color as your thread, just in a lighter in value. Cut a little smaller circle in a checked squared paper/ graph paper/ ternet/kvadreret papir. 2. Draw (and play) a pattern on the square paper, lay it on the top of the watercolor paper and pre poke holes through both papers. Poke where the 2 lines crosses. Stitch your pattern with straight stitches/ forsting/risting. 3. Use 3 different thicknesses of thread in the same color of your choice.

I used embroidery thread , Maderia lana thread and some silky thread my daughter gave me a few years ago.  Hard to tell even though each thread was a different weight but it's done!  HA

And I'm working away on my knitting project!  I had to create another cheat sheet so I know how many stitches I should have with each marker.  Yes, I should be able to just follow the pattern but I like knowing what I should have vs what I end up having!  Easier this way. 

And I'm still working on the BD puzzle from my friend, Susan.  Donna told me to enjoy the process!  So I am 'trying' to do that.  

I don't get to work on it every day but when I have some time or I just set the timer for 30-45 min. before dinner or in the a.m. makes me feel like I am accomplishing something!  

 

Gelli Prints What Are They Good For!

 In my last post I showed the Christmas cards I'm making using Strathmore Photo Cards.  I wanted to show some other ways you can make your own cards.  

In 2023 I made some cyano printed watercolor sheets, which I cut up and inserted in these cards.  I still will send these out just as a 'hello' card to friends.

Gelli prints or painted poster board are also great for cutting up and inserting into the photo frame to make a card. 

You can purchase the photo frame cards online...guess where!  HA  Yep, on Amazon!  Where else.  

I showed in the last week or so, some gelli prints I made.  These (the 3 at top of the page) are perfect to cut out and also insert in the photo frame.  Just a nice way to send a special card to a friend or even to just an acquaintance. 

Also, Lisbeth Degn has some video's on using your printed/gelli prints.  She has a cool way of folding the papers to make a book!  So that's what I'm doing.  I have lots of printed/gelli papers I made in Hilary's online class.  I'm excited to have them all in one spot vs in a bin!

You can see the papers are all together!  It's a cool way to keep these beauties together!  

And that's what you can do with your Gelli or printed papers!

Christmas Cards 2025!

What can I say!  This time of year I'm not walking 2-3 miles a day outside, not pulling weeds (ugh), spring/summer cleaning, outside work around the house, etc.  So much to do during the good weather.  So, I need to take advantage of the time now to make my Christmas cards.  I'm trying to make them every other year.  So that's what I started doing a few weeks ago!

I had some Christmas fabrics and actually bought some more at our new/local quilt shop!

I did strip piecing with different widths of the fabrics (using batting on the bottom).  

I then zig zag stitching in black thread to stitch over all the lines and adding a few more stitching lines.

I cut the sandwiched pieces 3 1/4" x 5 1/2" and then fused to Pellon 808 fusible.  This is a good fusible to give some stability to the little fabric pieces.

I then stamped on the back of each card my logo for my RobbiesPawPrints.  I love these wooden stamps.  I had made years ago on Etsy.  Wish I remembered the gentleman's name.  I'll have to look and see if I can find him.

I then insert the piece into one of the Strathmore Photo Frame cards.  I use these when I have some decent gelli or painted prints.  They just make nice cards.  

I made 8 of these so far.

I had some Charlie Harper Christmas fabrics that I haven't used in years.  So what better way to use them!  

I made 18 cards with this fabric.  I have some cool greens, blues, etc. of Charlie Harper fabric.  I think they'll look pretty good in the windows!

So I have 26 cards so far!  I think I may need 60 or so.  I'll have to check out my 2023 Christmas address list.  

In 2023, I made cyano prints on watercolor paper for my Christmas cards that year.  You can see the full sheets of cyano print here.  They make nice cards.  I still have some left and will send out if I want a card to send to a friend.

So that's what I've been working on in-between other projects!  HA

Slow Stitching with Lizbeth Degn

Just because I don't have enough projects to work on...thought I'd do a weekly challenge!  HA  I mentioned Lizbeth's YouTube channel and what great mixed media projects she has.  WOW...lots of info and she can get your creative juices flowing.  Yep, I started her weekly circle challenge for 2025.  

Easy enough...draw on circle on linen/soft fabric.  I'm using 6 inch pieces.  You'll see later where these are going.

Each week, Lisbeth has 3 or 4 criteria you need to follow. 

1. White or cream fabric. 2. Draw , paint, print 1 black circle. 3. Only use running stitches in straight lines. Thread color free.

 

easy..just using a running stitch,  fill in the circle.  So this was my week 1

Week 2 was 

 1. Coffee sprayed/dyed watercolor paper/cardstock. 2. Trace a circle on the watercolor paper. 3. Stitch only double running stitches wherever you want inside the traced circle. 4. Use 2 different color of threads, of your choice.

Hard to see...i think i used brown and gold Maderia thread

Week 3 Dogma Rules: 1. Light felt or a heavier fabric. 2. Cover the surface with used teabags. If you don’t have teabags use fx napkin, tissue paper or other stretchy paper. 3. Only use blanket stitches, do them in any size/length/wide you want. Stitch only 1 circle. 4. Thread color free.

I happen to have some tea bags my friend, Susan, sent me years and years ago!!! I did add a few others. Thanks, Susan!

The old buttonhole stitch!  I could have done more but I stopped...had to work on my puzzle!  HA  that's another post!

Week 4 Dogma Rules: 1. Light coloured fabric. 2. Trace 1 circle. Close your eyes and draw/doodle in 1 long movement inside the circle. 3. Only use wiped double running stitches. Stitch on the traced line you have done with your eyes closed. 4. 2 different color threads, 1 light and 1 dark. 1 for the double running stitches and 1 for the wiping. Free color choice.

I started off with dark blue and light blue but didn't like i so I ripped out!

Week 4.  I used dark purple and light purple.  i also switched to Pearle cotton.  I was using Maderia Lana thread for the first 3 weeks...but other than on the tea bags, I think the Pearle cotton is better. 

So I'm actually caught up.  Each Thursday, Lisbeth posts a new video for this challenge.  They are simple enough to finish so I should be able to keep up.  Time will tell!

Gelli Print Time

 Yep, it's Gelli Print time again in the house!  I've been watching some video's by Lisbeth Degan on YouTube.  She is a Mixed Media and Textile artist from Denmark!  WOW...check out some of her work on Instagram here  and on her youtube channel.  

I've been so inspired this new year with all of the wonderful artists out there.  Hard to decide what to do next!  So, I have about 4 or 5 projects that I am working on or starting!!!  First up is playing with my gelli printing again.  I only made six 8"x10" and eight 3"x5" prints.  

Hard to see but I used a heavy piece of brown paper squished up and tapped on the painted gelli print.  You have to enlarge the picture to see the pattern.  Lisbeth was using some used foil pretzel or coffee bags that she cleaned out then heat with heat gun.  She got some cool prints.  I just used some paper scrunched up.

The one on the left doesn't seem like much but the center will be good for collage work.  

And the smaller ones will work good for cards.

The print on the right was my paper to wipe off my roller with.  This print had too much white on it so what else to do but use leftover paint and roll on top.

The left one was using two colors and the scrunched up papers.

I already made a card to mail from one of the smaller prints.  Hence, there are only 3 small prints left.  

I like the larger print too.  Again, enlarge to see the detail.  I think it reminds me of pictures of icicles!  

"So what are you doing with these, Robbie" you're asking yourself.  Stay tuned.  They're going into a journal I'm making.  

And I'm also working on Lisbeth's Stitched Circle Weekly Challenge.  More on that later this week!