Tomorrow is New Years Eve already. I sure don't know where the year has gone, they just seem to fly by faster every year. Hubby and I will be staying at home. I don't drink at all and hubby does his beer drinking at home, lol. I don't care to be on the roads with people drinking and driving. I know it happens everyday but more so this time of year. I am not making an resolutions for the New Year. I quit making them some years ago and have never looked back. You have nothing to break, therefore you don't end up feeling like you have failed anything. I think a resolution is just a set up for failure. I think if you try and take care of issues in your life as they come up, you do much better. I work better that way. I hope you all have a Great New Year! May it be filled with peace, love, joy, and happiness. May you be surrounded with those you love and love you. I wish you all to prosper and gain wisdom during the coming year.

Well, it's raining. All that snow on the ground and we get rain. Sure going to be a mess. So thankful I don't have anywhere to go. I have just done one item since the Holiday. Got it listed on ArtFire yesterday. I don't think I am going to list it on Etsy...thinking of letting everything expire there....hard to go back and forth. I have lots of ideas in my head....just need to make them something tangable instead of an idea...lol. Cleaned a bit today, organized sewing studio. No matter how hard I try, it seems to get messy. Here is a picture of the last item made...hope you like it.

Well, Christmas is done one more time. The tree is down and deco all put away. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve with our family. Our grandboys sure make the holiday have special meaning for us. Now we are ready to face the New Year and what lays ahead. It has been a very bittersweet year and am hoping for a smooth and happy year ahead. I am getting ready to get myself back into the studio and get some new items made for my shops. Have already started and have a cute little dress cut out. Will post picture once it is together. I hope you all the best for the New Year and much peace and happiness. God Bless you all.

Finding it hard to believe that Christmas is day after tomorrow. It seemed a long time coming, and yet here it is in our face. Strange how that works. I have been done with my projects for several days. Played with my Cricut today, have yet to learn how to really use it. Baked 2 pumpkin pies for tomorrow evenings supper. Made green bean casserole and have that in the fridge. Make jell-o so I think I have everything done up ahead that is possible. We are celebrating on Christmas Eve because my daughter has to work both Christmas Eve day and Christmas Day. A storm is supposed to hit tommow with some snow, we shall see. Am leaving you with a picture of the chair we did for Jonah for Christmas. I'm sure he will like it as he is an avid Coca Cola collector. Have a Merry Christmas, and God Bless

Another busy day here at the Arwines. Went to youngest grandsons program at school today, it was cute, as always. He hated it but did see his mouth moving....lol. Helped daughter wrap her gifts today, all done. We finished Micah's chair, his big gift from Grandpa and Grandma. I know he will like it. He is a John Deere fan all the way. Need to finish Jonah's chair and make two tote bags and I think I am done. Just finished printing some bookmarkers and laminating them for everyone. Lots of readers around here. I hope you are all getting things ready for Christmas...is almost here. One week to go! Have a good night. Posting picture of John Deere chair.

Here it is...just a 9 days until Christmas. Hubby has been baking up a storm and the house smells very good. Most of our Christmas is done and wrapped, a few loose ends is all that is left. I made Rhinos for my two grandboys...they turned out so cute. Just finished them today and will post pictures. Sometimes we get so caught up in life that we forget what and who is importandt to us. I just want to say how important and how much I love my family. I just don't know what I would do without them. My husband takes good care of me, a man that was single for 49 years has done pretty good. My son-in-law, who I know would do anything within his power for me. He is a great dad and he is my son, I don't even need to ad the in-law. My grandboys Jonah and Micah mean more to me than I can ever put into words. Each in his own way is the most wonderful grandson anyone could ask for. I am so blessed. My daughter, Stephanie. She has done more for me than anyone could ask for. She is my girl, my friend, my daughter, my all in all. I was so blessed when she was born. God only gave my one child and He made sure to give me the best one. I could spend the rest of my life with her by my side and need no one else. We are alike, but she is a much better version of me. She is kind, compassionate, caring, gental, giving, accepting, and gracious.

Anyway....tis the Season! I am so thankful for the true reason for the Season. The birth of our Lord and Saviour. Merry Christmas Everyone.

Here are the Rhinos....

What a day. Went out to lunch with my daughter and her girlfriend today....jerk wings!!! I got quite a bit of work done early in the morn, feeling pretty good about that. I have been thinking about some new patterns for Teddy Bears. Once the Holiday's are behind us I will really have to get busy. Been in terrible pain all day, may have to throw in the towel and take a trip to the Dr.
I have been trying to rethink the whole concept of selling my bears and not sure where I am on that issue. I know there is a market....just not sure how to go about it. I will show some pictures tomorrow of a few of the gifts I have been making. Take care!

I've been wrapping gifts all evening. It is time consuming. I had quite a bit of jewelry I got from ArtFire and had to decide who got what....that took some time, for sure. I still have a lot to do, but made a dent in it. I like to do it as I go, if I had to do it all at once I don't think I'd make it...lol.





Didn't work any today. Had to buy some fabric...was able to get one kind in Mattoon, had to get the other online....hope they ship fast!!!





Had two sales today, that was exciting. One on ArtFire and one on Etsy. I hope I get a few more before the holidays are over.

Oh the two guys up top are singing "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" just for you.

Over and out!

Just wanted to show you all the baby boy that is so helpful in my sewing studio. He loves poly stuffing....have climb right in. He is such a sweet guy. Cappy is really the boss of our house, and rightly so.

Well, not really a Winter Wonderland, but a nice layer of snow. I love snow and Christmas, and Christmas cookies. I guess I am just a kid at heart. Husband was already wanting to decorate cookies with the grandboys today...lol. I told him he had to wait until the house is decorated or the pictures would look silly. Men..lol. He has been scouring cookbooks for days now...kitchen won't be safe.
I will be finishing Micah's doggy quilt today. Am coming along quite nicely on gifts. Have some new ideas for shops, but will have to wait. I guess if we run out of ideas we are in trouble. Have a great day!

It is snowing like crazy outside. The little boys were here and will be back in the morning. I hope to wake up to a Winter Wonderland! Didn't work much today, had some shopping and a few things around the house to get done. Am planning on wrapping gifts and spending some time sewing tomorrow. Picture is too funny...snowkitty, anyone???

Have a great night and see you tomorrow.

Tried to post yesterday....just wouldn't work for me. I have been busy in the studio....finished a Jungle(lions)quilt for oldest grandson today. I am on a roll and think I will finish Christmas gifts early. I have just a tad bit of shopping left to do. Sitting here and waiting for packages to come, lol.
I haven't sold anything since before black Friday....a bit bummed, to say the least. I was doing pretty good and it seemed to just come to a stand still. Still hoping, but almost out of time for shipping purposes. Better luck next year :0)
Well, thats about it for now. Will be back tomorrow, God willing. Have a good rest!

Soooooo, finished all six pair of jammy bottoms for the grandboys. Have some other things to get done. I have help coming tomorrow. Stephie is going to come and cut some things out for me. It really hurts my back to cut out patterns. She is a good girl, for sure. Haven't had any sales this weekend. I hope this cyber Monday turns out to be something. We shall see...lol. My PayPal account is getting low.

I am going to lay off for the holidays and try and sell what I have. I will do special orders, of course. Have one ready to get picked up now. Have to get busy and get things ready to decorate the house with. I wasn't going to do anything this year and was shamed into it by the grandboys....lol.

Talk to you tomorrow. Have a good night.

Hope all is well with everyone. I was pretty lazy today. Did some sewing on personal items for Christmas gifts and took a short walk with my girl. I made it around the block, big accomplishment for me. Will keep doing it and hopefull it won't hurt as bad. Have some new ideas running in my head....going to do some research and see if I think they are doable. Be back for more fun tomorrow. Here is an item from me and Stephies shop http://www.stepherbugs.artfire.com/

Here it is, another Thanksgiving Day behind us. Had a great day with the kids. Missed my brother so much, he really enjoyed a good meal. Stephie did all the cooking this time around and everything was done to a "T" . I have put a picture of Vashon up as I am missing home today. There is nothing to compare to the blue water and Mt. Rainer peeking up behind. I am happy and love my life....just a bit homesick today. Hope you all had a wonderful day.

This lovely piece from LJWoods shop on ArtFire will sing in the Holiday Season. She has many pieces that I am sure you will enjoy checking out.

I have been working on an order for 14 Memory Baby Bears. Hope to finish them up tomorrow. I really enjoy doing the Memory work because you know it will bring someone great joy. I have so much to do and so little time to get it done. I have my own projects to get done for Christmas so I guess I will start burning the candle at both ends. Have a great evening!!

Ok....really am trying to be better about blogging. I have been so busy with my brother ailing and passing away. I guess I am ready to continue on. I have lots of things to get photograhed and listed before the holidays really hit. Had a Bazar last week....didn't sell a thing. I have to get busy and see what I can get done. Turned cold today. I hate to think of winter coming. My husband put a new roof on the garage last week....should of been done last year. It sure looks good. So happy to have it done. Have two ladies coming to bring fabric for Memory Bears tomorrow morning. I want to get some Christmas sewing for myself done....well, here I am ranting on. Take care and talk at you soon.

Handmade Christmas

Last year we decided to do a "comerical" Christmas and bought all of our gifts. My grandson told my daughter that he liked it better when we had homemade Christmas. This year my husband and are are buying antique chairs and painting one a John Deere green and making the seat out of John Deere fabric. The other we are doing a bright red and using Coke fabric. I am making pillowcases for everyone from fabric that depicts things they love. I am also making aprons for all my sister-in-laws and fruitcakes that I just baked today. I am doing Rag Dolls for gifts and P.J.'s for the grandboys. Fleece hats for all. I think this will be a Christmas to be remembered.

Just wanted to point out the Santa's gone contest going on. You can win $300.00 to spend on ArtFire. Just click on the box......good luck!

Make sure you check out our site on ArtFire....www.stepherbugs.artfire.com. Going to be moving everything to other site....just been lazy.

I am so behind.....have been having some personal things going on and have just not been with the program. I will be better. I have opened a second shop on ArtFire and have childrens clothes and womens hats and odds and ends that just look like fun to make. I have some cool totes and purses too. Thanks for sticking with me....talk to you tomorrow.

Ok...here I am. I was here and wrote such a nice post a bit over a week ago. It vanished, and my reserve with it. I am trying again. I have been sick for two weeks now and still not feeling well. My Dr. is out of town until the 16th. I have not worked on bears since the Festival, a bit burned out, I think. Have been catching up on some other sewing projects and a sweater I am knitting for Grandson for Christmas. Have been hanging very close to home as I need to stay close to bathroom. :0(
I am going to be starting on some new projects to add to my Teddy Bear line. Just haven't decided just what yet. The weather is so lovely. In the 80's still and sunshine, sunshine, sunshine. You can feel the change in the air but so far, so good. Have a great night.

Boy, it has been awhile. I am so sorry. Just spent 3 days at the Author, IL Cheese Festival. Had a few sales but made some good contacts. I am so tired. Not going to write much but wanted to check in. I am full of new ideas and just have to find the time. Stay tuned!

Well....as usual I have been working pretty steady in my studio. I am trying to get Halloween and fall bears ready for the Cheese Festival in Author, Il and I have a special order from Artfire and one here in town. I have a Cardinal Team bear I want to make my son-in-law for his birthday on Aug. 25. Stephie and Jeff are going to Brown County, IN in a week and are going to take some bears to see if they can wholesale some to the shops there. Keep your fingers crossed. I have been down in the back pretty bad the last few weeks so I haven't been at the computer much. I did list a few new things last night. Will post one here for you to see. Have a great weekend. This is a Pooh Teddy Bear with a pink vest. I just love the fabric.

Here it is, Monday again. Just a quick note to let you know about a shop on artfire. Chamorita Essentials, selling handmade makeups and soaps. Give her a visit at www.artfire.com/users/chamoritaessentials.

Been posting things, one at a time. Listed these yesterday.

Good evening....want to show you some real pretty jewlery at one of the ArtFire shops. It is www.artfire.com/users/1beadatatime I think they are lovely.

I am so excited with myself. I finished everything that I had started. I finished a special order for 6 Teddy Bears, they were the Dr. Bears. I finished all the bears I had cut out....they are dressed and everything....even photographed. I finished 7 sets of Meow Kitty Kats. There is not one unfinished project on my table.....whoot whooot. Now I have to get busy and do some Halloween Bears and big Ballerina Bears for the Cheese Festival coming up on Labor Day weekend. It is in Author, IL. It's a township where many of the Amish folks live. One of my favorite towns.....and you should see their fabric shops. Anyway...going to show you the Gotham
City Bat Teddy Bear I listed today. Hope you like it. I have a new website as well. It is http://www.wineberrybears.com/

Bear Hugs,

Susie

Been so busy, I just can't keep up. I have so many items to get finished. I have 9 bears to dress, two bears to stuff, faces for 5 bears, lab coats for 5 bears, and 4 lab coats to make. I have to get my Halloween and fall items started for a festival on Labor Day weekend. I guess I will do what I can and call it good. I am going up to do more work when finished here. I hope you are all well. We had family reunion on my Hubby's side on Sunday. Had a great time. Going to put in the Chicago Bears Bear that I just listed on ArtFire and Etsy, hope you like him. It was my husbands idea to do the visor.

Hello all....been working hard. Finished sewing 7 sets of Meow kitty kats today. Have three of five teddy bears cut out for a special order. I feel like I really could use one more of me. My husband has family reunion tomorrow so that will really cut down on my work time. Preparing for festival on Labor Day weekend. I have tons to do and feel a bit overwhelmed. Anyway....off to bed for me. Just finished frosting a banana cake and making a tortillini ranch pasta salad for tomorrow. See you soon.

Good day all,

just a few words to wish you all well. I have been in a lot of pain here lately, but trying to work through it. I have made some great headway working into the wee hours. It has been very hot and humid. Seems cooler today, hope it stays that way. Have a family reunion this Sunday, looking forward to that. Will stick a picture of Radiator Springs Baby Bear in for you to see. Keep the Peace.

Good Morning everyone....am here to show you some pretty items from one of our artfire shops. Kraftouch Treasures. Hope you enjoy her items. I can see that scruncy in my hair, for sure.

I did add three new baby bears to my studio yesterday, going to share one of them with you just because I think it is so darn cute. Have a great and wonderful day!

I feel like I am running myself ragged. I have been working hard and still have so much to do. Beginning to wonder if I will ever catch up. One person really can only do so much. I have 4 18-inch bears stuffed, needs eyes, nose, clothes. I have two 15-inch bears that need to be stuffed. I have 3 18-inch bears that need sewn. I just stuffed 11 baby bears and still need to sew them closed. And I think it's 7 sets of Meow Kitty Kats cut out that need to be sewn. Oh man! Hope you all have a great weekend.

Hi guys, I ment to get here yesterday and one thing led to another and I ended up spending more time in my studio than anticipated, not a bad thing to get things done!

Here are some great items for you guys to check out. These are from http://www.artfire.com/users/123gemstones

As for my self here is something I have been working on.

Wanted to share this studio on ArtFire with all of you. I think these prints are wonderful. I like the colorful ones the best. http://www.artfire.com/users/InletImages

Have fun shopping! I have been busy making some Chicago Bears bears...lol. They will be so cute, of course can't label them as such. Have some great new ideas for bears....wish I could work faster. There is only one of me....lmao, I'm sure some are glad about that fact. Have a good day everyone.

Oh man....I cut and cut and cut today. I have 6 18-inch bears, 2 15-inch bears, and 9 baby bears cut out. I feel like I can't stand up straight....lol. Now I can sit down and get them sewed up without hurting my back. I got my poly fill today, it sure came fast. I used to get 10 pound boxes but am unable to get it locally now. I ordered it and got a 25 pound box. My cat is going to be so excited when I open it. He loves to play in the stuff while I am stuffing bears. He makes a real game of it. He grabs me when I reach in to take some. He's never had this much to play in before, he should be in kitty heaven, lol. Ok everyone, going to go to bed now. It is way early for me, but I am tired of going to bed when hubby is getting up. Have a great day and will see you tomorrow. Here is a picture of Meow Kitty Kats.

Check this out on Artfire

Please visit Noveenas shop, I found these three pieces absolutly stunning.

Good evening. Been busy today. Cut out four 18 inch bears and 4 of the baby bears that I listed for the first time on Artfire today. I have been in terrible pain since cutting out patterns. It seems that it is hard on my back so I try to do a bunch at a time so I can sit and sew for awhile. I have decided not to do the show on Saturday and concentrate on a big one on Labor Day and maybe a few smaller ones during the fall season. I have some special fabrics I want to use and have decided to make some tutu's for some of the bears. I guess you don't know unless you try. I am going to try and get more bears cut out tomorrow......I have three more pieces that I had ironed up and need to get it done before they get wrinkled up. Going to stick a picture in of a baby bear.

Sorry, been so busy. I went out with Stephie today and we ended up buying about 20 yards of fabric, 4 yards of tulle, 3 yards of interfacing, 300 buttons, silk flowers, bow ties, ribbon, and thread. We also ordered 25 pounds of poly fill stuffing online. Can't buy the boxes at Wal-Mart anymore. Stephie even checked and couldn't find it at Hobby Lobby, Joanns fabric, or that other place in Terre Haute. Strange isn't it? Living in a rural place does have setbacks at times. Anyway, made 13 baby bears and a set of 3 different size set of cats. Will try to get pictures on tomorrow for you to see. I have lots of work staring me in the face, that's for sure. Take care.

Ok....here are the Christmas Bears I have been working on. Finished them today. I am working on 7 inch little bears now. They are real plain with just a ribbon. No faces or anything. They are cute. I stick them on my Christmas tree or put them in baskets, or just put them some place to surprise someone. Anyway, hope to have them done by Saturday. I think I will be done when Saturday rolls around.....it's like Christmas, I'm done when Christmas Day comes. I could just keep doing forever and never be done....lol. Well, I'm off to bed. Watched Nascar Nationwide race with my eyes shut tonight. Terrible..... G'nite all.

Oh man, I seem to lose all track of time anymore. I went shopping with my sister-in-law today, have the grandboys overnight, did some listing on computer....and here it is 10pm. I did no sewing at all today. I did finish stuffing the last Christmas bear last night and ironed some fabric I wanted to get cut today. I did find a couple of smaller bear patterns I thought I might add to my site. I still have a lot of work to do before next Saturday's sale. I would really like to sell off some inventory so I can sew, sew, sew.....lol. I am in the process of finding a good place to get poly-fil without it costing so much. I used to get it by the 10 pound box at Wal-Mart.....but go figure, they quit carrying it. I sure have a love/hate relationship with that place. Being so far out in the country I am stuck shopping with them. Anyway, will try to get noses and eyes done on the four Christmas bears before I go off to bed. Good night all.

I sure don't know where the time goes. Well, I have two more Christmas bears sewed and stuffed. Working on another. I cut prices on my bears today. I would really like to get them moving. Some are cut by $29.00. I sure hope it generates some sales. I am about out of room. Rick and I may have to move out and leave the cat and the bears the house....lol. I have at least 6 more bears I would like to make before the 24th. Going to a sale in Terre Haute, IN that day. Everyone take care and will post pictures once all is done.

I almost forgot....If you are looking for a very special gift for someone...go to http://www.artfire.com/ and check out Andrea Designs. She makes shawls that would be suitable for the red carpet. I am putting three of my favs here for you to see.

Wow....I guess I missed yesterday. She what happens when you get busy. I have finished the first of 8 Christmas bears that I want to make for a show in two weeks. I will be ranting for sure before long. I just think they will be a good seller for the holiday decorating season. I have 4 bears cut out and will sew them before cutting out the other three. I would like to make more of the Patchwork ones like the one I just finished. Will post it here so you can see. I have been in a lot of pain, still pushing myself to work hard. Have a great day.