Been a bit ......

Didn't realize how long it had been since I was on here. Have been making some new tic tac toe games and a few other items the past few months. Started to make accessories in some great colors. Love using multi colored yarn. Makes for some great pattern designs. Hope that in the new year I'll get on here more. Have a second laptop at home now and don't have to share with hubby for computer time.

Hope everyone has a great Christmas and New Year!

Best Seller?

Do I have a best seller in my shop? Yes, it it my tic-tac-toe games. I made the first one because I have this list of items that I want to make. And one of them was a tic-tac-toe game. Not that I have anyone to play the game with, just wanted to make it because it was "cute".

This one was made using 7-mesh canvas and 4-ply yarn for the game board and 10-mesh canvas and embroidery floss for the game pieces. I made an small box for storage of the game pieces. I received a request to make a second one , only with different colors. So that was the start of a new line in my Etsy shop.


Little did I know that by Christmas time, every game set that I made would be sold. They are not lasting long as listing in my shop. I went from making the small butterflies and blooms set to other theme sets.

I made set with the following themes (some of them twice):
Standard Set - X's and O's in contrast colors
Anchors Away - life preservers and anchors
Christmas Sweets - Peppermints and Candy Canes
Valentine's Day - Hearts and Kisses (X's)
St Patrick's Day - Shamrocks and Gold
Easter - Bunnies and Eggs
For Spring - Baseballs and Bats

My biggest problem has been what to use for storage of the game pieces and/or set. I started making small boxes for the game pieces, which were OK but I knew I wanted something better. Then I made bags for the whole game set with a small box for the pieces. Those were OK also, but not what I really wanted. Then I made the game board into a storage box. That was great but time consuming to make. So now I'm at the point of seeing which one will sell best - bags or boxes. Which one would you want - the bags or the box?

The move is over

Well the move it over and done with. So glad, now I can get settled into a routine and enjoy being in the Houston area. Now if the weather would just warm up. Tried of below freezing temps. Any way ...
Have a new craft room, so I try and get photos to post later on. Everything is unpacked and has a new home. It has taken me a bit to get back into my crafts, but I'm ready to get at them. I hope to be able to get here each week and update. But don't hold me to it.

Moving Time

The big move to the Houston area is almost here. I have been busy getting things ready for the move. Once I accepted the new position, I had to find a place to live. The internet is a great way to look at houses and work on getting the selection down to just a few. My husband and I must of looked to over 100 possible houses. Found the one that I wanted. Worked with a great guy from the Houston area in getting this place. Made a fast trip to Houston to check out the house. Got a lease signed and a move in date. Now it is getting our stuff packed (company is going pay for the move) and on the truck and to Houston. Not looking forward to the unpacking - moving company will do the packing but not the unpacking. Will have to put my etsy shop on hold during the move, hope it doesn't hurt sales - they are just picking up. Need to go work on getting a few craft items packed so I'll be able to find them later.

New Job

Got a new position with my company USG in Galena Park TX. That means that I'll be moving from Mississippi to Texas. Galena Park is part of the Houston area. Will have lots of places to go eat and shop at. It will be nice to be close to shopping and have more than 4 places to sit down and eat. Just have to go down and look for a place to live. Have been looking on line and have picked out a couple of houses.

The bad part of this is the getting ready for the move. It is cutting into my craft time and I haven't been putting any new items in my etsy shop. Have been relisting items, but not the same as new items. Have been working on a new tic-tac-toe game but between training my co-workers to do my old job and getting ready for this move I have not been working on my crafts much. Will keep y'all posted.

Quick Update #2

Been busy make some new tic-tac-toe games. They seem to be a good seller for me on my etsy shop. I do need to be making some other items but not in the mood to work on anything else. Had to take some time off from crafts to take a couple of computer classes for work. Fun classes, just long hours that I can't use for crafts.

Seems like I'm painting

Been working on new items for my etsy shop and letting my blog just sit. Sorry for that.

I've been working on some door signs. It is so much fun to watch the design develop as I add new rows and colors. In a way it is like doing a painting, you start with a plain piece of canvas and by add color and texture with your stitches you create a picture.

Some pictures many not be of a set object but a grouping of color. That is what happens sometimes when I do a solid piece. Each color works with the next and before long you have a warm feeling about what you have made. I love sharing that feeling with others. I hope you can find the warmth in my items as you check them out.

Thanks to all of you who are and have been following this blog. I hope to figure out how to follow each and everyone of you. Just give me sometime to work at it.