Kitty Christmas November Giveaway

I thought I should get busy and get my November giveaway posted!  I hope you all like it.  I modified a little pattern from Kitty Kringle's Pattern Book.  This little ornie was stitched on fiddler's cloth and backed with wool.  I aged it with my very own "secret" technique that I will share with you all someday. 

Now for the giveaway rules:
1. You must be a follower of my blog and leave a comment on this post only (new followers welcome).
2. You can post about my giveaway on your blog (additional entry).
3. You can tell me the names of your kitties (additional entry).
4. The giveaway will end November 30th at midnight.
5. I will draw the name of the winner by December 3rd.

Cat Haven Crafts November 2011 Giveaway

Good luck to all who enter!  We are having a wintery day here ... drove to work in snow, sleet, rain, and 35 mph winds! All at the same time.  It can really mess up a girl's hairdo!  My kitty's refused to go out on the porch this morning! I don't blame them.  I would love to be home stitchin' on a day like today!

Herbs and Free Kitty Halloween Cross Stitch Pattern

I wanted to share with you all a really cute (free) cross stitch pattern I came across today from Silver Cute Dwarf which is called "Boo" and something I'll be stitching this week! I love it.

The other thing I'd like to share is a bit about herbs. I love herb lore! They have along history as a natural remedies—and many other more unusual uses, too (especially if you’re bothered by a pesky witch or two this Hallow’s Eve!). Here are a few!

Basil - A cup of basil tea after dinner helps digestion. Ease a headache by drinking tomato juice blended with fresh basil.

Chives - Bunches of chives hung in your home were used to drive away diseases and evil.

Dill - Romans made wreaths and garlands out of dill. Dill keeps witches away.

Fennel - Bunches of fennel were used to drive off witches. It was used in love potions and as an appetite suppressant (don’t you wish!).

Garlic - It was thought to give strength and courage. Aristotle noted garlic's use as a guard against the fear of water. It's also been widely used against evil powers.

Marjoram - The Greeks believed it could revive the spirits of anyone who inhaled it.

Mint - It was believed to cure hiccups and counteract sea-serpent stings (especially important to those of you living by water!).

Oregano - Also used for scorpion and spider bites.

Rosemary - Rosemary in your hair will improve your memory. It will protect you from evil spirits if you put a sprig under your pillow.

Sage - Thought to promote strength and longevity and believed to cure warts. American Indians used it as a toothbrush.

Thyme - Burning thyme gets rid of insects in your house. A bed of thyme was thought to be a home for fairies.

Folk lore aside some herbs do help fight winter colds and flu, especially herbs known for their strong scents—rosemary, thyme, sage, basil, oregano, lavender, and others. They have high concentrations of volatile oils that have antiseptic and antibiotic properties that bolster the immune system. To ease sore throats, make your own gargle by adding a teaspoon or two of any of the following to warm water: cider vinegar, sage, chamomile, lemon juice, or raspberry leaves.

Have you ever heard of Cats Ear? It’s also known as False dandelion. Historically, dandelion was prized for a variety of medicinal properties, and it really does contain a wide number of pharmacologically active compounds. Dandelion is used as folk remedies in North America, Mexico and China. Cats Ear and dandelions are completely edible and if you ever get a chance to visit The Amana Colonies in east, central Iowa, try their dandelion wine!

Selling Poll Results and Some Fall Photos

Good morning all! I hope you are having a glorious fall day! First of all, I would like to share the selling poll results that I received during my September giveaway.  The majority of you indicated that you would prefer to purchase prims from me from a selling blog but a close second was from Etsy and lastly (and not many) preferred eBay.  So, with that information in mind, I am working on creating my selling blog (any tips would be greatly appreciated) and hope to have it up and running in a few weeks.

The second thing I'd like to share today are two purchases I recently made.  A little while ago I purchased an herb rack from Firecracker Kid Primitives and this weekend I finally got it up on my wall.  Here is a photo of it with some of my Halloween ornies. I really, really like it!

The next item I purchased was from Wicked Faerie Queen -- a cute little painted Halloween box.

I also wanted to share with you some of my Halloween decorating (I don't do too much anymore because of working full time and the time it takes to put up and put away things) that make me smile!

And lastly, little Mr. Nicky trying out the new throw blankets (they weren't out 5 mintues before he climbed up here!).  Take care and remeber to hug those kitties today!

Need a Haystack or Two?

Just a short post today -- I wanted to share this little tutorial that I came across at Wee Folk Art for making burlap haystacks (perhaps your kitty won't want to chew on these!).  They can be made any size and the tutorial is very easy and step by step.  So if you don't feel like cleaning up pieces of hay all over your house, try out one or two of these haystacks.

Good morning all you crafty ladies! I hope you are having a wonderful, fall day.  It's been very foggy here this morning, but nice and cool and crisp.  I just wanted to remind you that my Scaredy Cat Pillow Giveaway ends 9/30 at midnite!

I also want to share with you a free pattern for a thanksgiving wool applique pillow.  Click here for instructions and the pattern.  I am thinking of stitching one up this weekend.

Kim also has compiled 101 Festive Fall Tutorials over at her blog. So, please take a minute and visit her at Everything Etsy

Some of you have asked about the wool kitties I used to make and sell and whether or not I will be making and selling them in the future and the answer is YES! So please stay tuned.  I may not get around to making my fall/Halloween kitties, but I most likely will be stitching up some of them for winter/Christmas.  Thanks for asking!

Weekend Wanderings

Hello! I hope your weekend was wonderful.  I was able to get some things done even though I an limping around. I fell a few days ago ... I am really such a klutz ... and hurt my left ankle and foot. I am now wearing a boot and am not supposed to put weight on that foot ... we'll see how that goes.  A few weeks ago I dropped a large rock on my other foot and broke two toes.  I'm thinking that these are signs from God telling me I must spend more time sitting and stitching! :)

I had a wonderful time on Saturday with Henry as he visited his first pumpkin patch. Doesn't he look like he is having the time of his little life?

I have to laugh at the first picture in this post (scroll back to it). I'm wondering about the meaning and purpose of the "pumpkin" catapult in the right hand corner of the photo? LOL!!!

I am also thrilled and humbled that I now have more than 100 followers! To celebrate, I will be having another giveaway in October.  And I will be tallying up my questionnaire about eBay vs. Esty vs. a Selling Blog as soon as the give away is over.  But I can probably say that I will not be going back to selling on eBay.  Here are a few items that I've finished, need to be stitched into pillows or mini-quilts, or stuffed that you might find on my selling blog one of these days.  The first photo is a little mini-quilt/wall hanging that I made up from a free design offered recently by Shirley Hudson over at Hudson's Holidays;

This little saying makes me smile every time I see it.  I am also making a little pillow from the pattern on muslin, too.  Here are a few of my items.  When/if I sell them, I will let you know who is the pattern designer, but right now I can't find the original patterns in amongst all my patterns (thanks for not asking me to get up and look, the foot you know! :) )

All in all, it has been a wonderful weekend ... the corn is looking good, spent time with my grandson, my daughter and I spent some good quality time together and she made a DELICIOUS bacon/spinach/broccoli quiche for supper for us all!  Well, the work week starts early tomorrow so I'm off to get into my PJ's and enjoy a cup of chamomile/lavender tea!  Hope you all have sweet dreams tonight.

Cat and the Fiddle Win!

Hi All, Hope your New Year's has started out really well.  I have no complaints (so far).  I'm even able to remember to write 2011 instead of 2010 on my checks.  We are in the process of tearing up our kitchen floor to put down laminate.  Why are we doing this? Well, I am married to Tool Man Tim and we NEVER have anyone do something that Tool Man can do.

And yes, I helped! I'm the clean up crew and floor nail puller.  Hopefully we will get the flooring this weekend. After we get the floor in hubby would like to tackle the cabinets. We are thinking of painting them white or cream to brighten up the kitchen since its so small and doesn't get a lot of natural light.

I also won another giveaway! This time the winnings will go to my new grandson who is set to arrive anytime after January 11th.  Isn't this Cat-and-the-Fiddle blanket just adorable and it is hand made by an absolutely wonderful gal named Carol.

Carol makes wonderful items.  I love the little kitty scarf that she has listed in her Etsy Store.  Please take some time and stop by and browse through her store, CC's Kittenknits

I'm still busy with work, the house, and the new arrival and haven't had much time to craft, but I did go through my pattern stash and have picked out some projects to work on for spring and Valentine's Day!

We had a lovely snow last week, but now its all gone and it's just cold outside and kinda brown.  The kitties are staying warm, though.  Here is a picture of Oscar and Ms. B. snuggling. Aren't they cute!

I'll sign off for now and try by best to find some time to visit all of my blog friends and see what you have all been crafting!

Stay warm and hug a kitty today!

Advent Poinsettia from Wee Folk

Good Morning, All!!! It is a very, very cold morning here in Eastern Iowa ... only 9 degrees with a wind chill of 1 degree. A good day for thermal underwear! My kitties have decided its pointless to ask to go out on the porch as mom just isn't paying the heating bill out there and it is cold enough to freeze tails off!

This morning I wanted to share with you a lovely "FREE" wool applique poinsettia pattern from WEE FOLK! It is a lovely, bright and fun blog. There is even a large section of free patterns of things like gnome and dollhouse accessories, toys, kids crafts, apparel, household, and tutorials.  Whenever I need a smile, I browse around this blog. It is so bright and happy. If you have a spare moment today, take a break and head on over to this sweet blog!

Found a Cute New Blog!

Good morning all! I just wanted to share with you all a new blogging friend I just found! Please stop in to visit her when you have some time. She is new to the blogging world and you can find her at Libbie's Home!. She is also having a wonderful giveaway to boot! Hope you have a catastic day!

Louie the Gnome Kitty

Yesterday, my daughter had another OB appointment and found out that everything is A-OK with her and baby boy.  We even got to see his profile on the ultrasound!  He is set to arrive end of January/beginning of February! In a family of girls, he is our first boy and we can't wait! We are having so much fun visiting all the great thrift stores here for baby clothes -- What deals on hardly worn items!  He already has a better wardrobe that I do. 

Molly has been feeling a lot better and is knitting away ... she has made baby boy one sweater already, and several hats.  Here is Louie modeling one of the little gnome hats.  We may have to make one for Louie as he seemed to really enjoy wearing it!

It has been a long week for me and my fibromyalgia has kicked up (I am trying to kick it back) so I hope to have a restful weekend (its supposed to rain here and that usually inspires me to sew and read).  Hope you all have a great time the next few says and as always, love to see what you make and hear from you! May the fabric always be with you!

SHARING A KITTY COASTER PATTERN

Good Monday Morning All! Hope your Halloween was fun and very spooky! Ours was kind of quiet.  My mom and dad came up to visit and mom said "Don't buy any Halloween candy, I have tons, and I'll bring mine." So okay! Great plan. Mom and dad arrive late Sunday afternoon about 1 hour before trick or treat time begins. Mom says "I forgot the candy." Oh well, so we look around the house to see if there is anything we can give out as treats - granola bars, bananans, oranges .... nothing. So mom answers the door for the first little girl and says we don't have any candyand gives her a dollar. The little girl's eyes get big when she see the money and says "Gee, thanks, maam!!"  Since we didn't want to go broke we then turned off the porch light.  Thankfully no one came back and egged the house!

Kezzie report.  Kezzie did well over the weekend but it still exhibiting signs of a blockage so I am going to take him back to the vet after work today, so please keep your fingers crossed for him that it's just the effect of surgery and not something else.  Thanks bunches!!!

And now for the free pattern! This cute little "kitty coaster" pattern was in my free issue of Creative Times
Supplies:
• Cotton fabrics of your choice, 2 rectangles 8” x 6” for each Kitty Coaster
• Warm and Natural batting, 1 rectangle 8” x 6” for each Kitty Coaster
• Ruler, marker pen, scissors, needle and thread, tacky glue (optional)
• Thin Ribbon or Raffia or Perle Cotton and ¼” rusty bells (optional)
• Trace kitty pattern  onto card stock or cardboard.

Cut out your Kitty shape. You will make a “sandwich” layering warm and natural, with right sides together from 2 of the same rectangles of cotton fabrics. The wrong side of your cotton fabric should be facing you. Trace your Kitty pattern onto the wrong side of the top fabric. Your tracing line is your sewing line. Stitch, leaving opening at bottom of layers as indicated on your pattern. Trim seam, and carefully turn right side out. The warm and natural should now be in the middle of the two fabrics and inside the Kitty. You might need to use a chop stick or other small tool to turn the ears! Press. Whip stitch the opening at the bottom of the kitty closed. Top stitch ¼” from the edges all around the Kitty. Add bow or raffia (with tacky glue) or stitch a small rusty bell (optional) as indicated on Kitty pattern. Finished! These Kitty Coasters would make great teachers’ gifts, hostess gifts or make upa bunch using fabrics for each holiday or occasion throughout the year.

Take care and don't forget to hug your kitty today!

New Blog Friend

I just made a new blog friend! And I hope you will find some time to visit her blog at The Homespun Loft! Her name is Charlotte and she lives within Dartmoor National Park, Devon in England -- maybe she will send us some pictures? I would love to see where she lives within the park, how about you? She makes darling items and at The Homespun Loft  you can find Homespun fabrics, tinware, spicy mug mats, hand crafted items and loads of other prim this ‘n’ that. It's really a sweet little place! Welcome, Charlotte!

Adorable E-pattern!

I was browsing today and came across this wonderful, whimsical e-pattern from Homespun Annie! I think it is one of the cutest and original patterns I've seen in awhile (of course, take in mind that I am drawn to anything that has to do with kitties!). You can find it HERE. You might also want to visit ANNIIE'S BLOG, TOO! 

I hope you all have a fantastic fall weekend! I hope to be back next week with some new woolie creations of my own to share with you all!

FINALLY DONE!

Good Friday Everyone! Well, finally the HUGE project at work is DONE! I am also very close to getting my house ready for my daughter and her hubby when they move back home from Oregon the second week of September! They will be staying with us for a few months until they get a place of their own (I'm hoping they stay until after the baby is born!).  So, things are winding down a bit and the lawn isn't growing like its on grass hormones (but alas, this summer's weather has not been kind to my garden) and I may have time to get back to sewing! I have acquired some great new fall patterns, have found some in my stash I'd forgotten about, and have a few ideas for some more of my Cat Tales design sitting kitties - can't wait to get started.

What I wanted to share with you today (especially all you gals out there who are so great with your really primitive designs) is a new magazine that will be out in October. It's called "Prims - The Art of Primtive Dolls" from Stampington & Company. You can order it here at http://www.stampington.com/html/prims_autumn10.html. Hope you have a great weekend and enjoy finding out about this new magazine! 

Kezzie Doing Well!

Hi All! Its a dreary, muggy afternoon here in Eastern Iowa but on the plus side I wanted to let you know that Kezzie seems to be having a good day today. Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes you sent his way.

While wandering around blogland today I found another artist who I think does the most fantastic work making kitty dolls! Her blog is anotherlinda. Stop by and visit her blog today if you have time.  Here is a picture of one of her kitty dolls! Isn't she fantastic!

I also had some time last evening to sticth up a little bit of whimsy based on a hooked rug pattern from Nola's Hooked Rugs.  Although, I don't profess to have need to have a pet skunk, this little pattern just stuck my fancy (its also currently listed on eBay along with a few other new crafty items). Hope you all have a wonderful afternoon and happen upon all sorts of exciting fun things.