A Terrific sale, a Tufted Titmouse, and Ten Ping

Who got their JoAnn’s flyer in the mail today? I did! The front page says ALL the cotton quilting fabric will be on sale…40% off! Maybe we should have a contest and see who buys the most fabric and then “saves the most money” !!! If you need any fabric to go with what you already have, this would be a good sale to hit! I may or may not go… guess which…

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Also, Kathie mentioned in the comments on yesterday’s post with the garden pictures, that she was growing miniature gourds to use as ornaments. I’m not sure if she was going to paint them or not, but it reminded me of one I have that my brother in law painted for me one Christmas. It’s a sweet Tufted Titmouse and they are one of my very favorite birds. I just love it. It’s sitting on a shelf and I think it’s a wonderful conversation piece. He’s an art professor at a college, so he’s P-R-E-T-T-Y good!!!

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I was working on a little outfit for my new Ten Ping doll and didn’t quite get it finished, but I know this is a sewing blog, so I thought I would show you what I have finished so far. It looks like I’m going to have to figure out those black shoes after all!!! I’ve still got some embellishing to do on it and make her head piece. I drafted the pattern and it always takes longer the first time you are figuring it out.

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So hopefully I’ll get it finished tomorrow and you’ll see the final look. She is so tiny but I love her!

See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne

16 thoughts on “A Terrific sale, a Tufted Titmouse, and Ten Ping”

  1. Jeanne, I don’t get Jo-Anne flyers in the mail, but they do come in the Sunday paper. I’m sure you will go—-positive!!! After all, it’s a SALE!!!

    Wow, your brother in law is very talented! How big is that gourd? Since I too, was an art teacher, I love and appreciate all things art!

    Oh, what a darling outfit for Ten Ping! Where do you find oriental prints? JoAnn’s, or somewhere else? I rarely see them anywhere, unless you get them from a specialized place.

    I’m off today to get more yard work done while the weather is cooperating. Just am fighting the yellow fuzzy stuff falling off the oak trees and the “helicopters” falling off the silver maple in the yard—-ugh! They are all over the place!

    1. HI Linda,
      There’s more than just “fabric” at JoAnn’s so maybe you should go to the sale too! You never know what you might find!

      Mike’s gourd is about 6″ tall. It is so cute! I like it with the little stem sticking up.

      Thanks for the compliment on Ten Ping’s outfit. This particular piece of fabric came from Jackman’s, up by you…I stopped in there one time when we were in St. Louis and bought about 6 or 8 half yard pieces of oriental prints. I think it was when I had just gotten Song or An Mei. Occasionally I see a tiny Asian print, but they aren’t real common.

      You’ll have to send me some pics of “your” yard… as much as you do in it, I bet it’s lovely! I know how annoying those “helicopters” are!!!
      Thanks Linda,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  2. I did. I did. Too bad I don’t “need” any fabric! Ha. Ha. This sale may warrant a trip to the BIG Joann’s!
    I don’t think the tufted titmouse visits us this far north. They look like they have a cardinal’s shape, no? Boy, there are a lot of artistic and creative people in your family!
    I LOVE Ten Ping’s new outfit. What a great way to showcase a cute fabric. Ingenious solution, Jeanne! She looks adorable.
    Have a great day!

    1. HI Cindy,
      Most seamstresses don’t “need” any more fabric…it’s just the thrill of the hunt sometimes that’s so exciting….looking for the perfect fabric!!!
      The titmouses are really fun to watch. The little tuft on top of their heads makes them easy to spot. They are about the size of cardinals…maybe a little smaller.
      We all have our talents and it’s fun when we get together… all those creative minds thinking alike.
      Thanks for your kind words on Ten Ping’s set. Now to tackle those shoes…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  3. Hi Jeanne,
    Ten Ping looks so darling in the outfit you are making her. What beautiful material.
    You must go to the sale at JoAnn’s. Somewhere down the line you may need just the right piece of material for my girls’ future dresses! LOL.
    Your family is indeed artistic and talented. The gourd is beautiful. What a lovely item to have in your home. Those are the most cherished gifts- those made by our loved ones.
    By the way, Scruffy looked so cute with his face sticking out of the garden bushes. I am sure he was a big help : ) Have a beautiful day Jeanne!

    1. HI Paula,
      Oh, thank you, for allowing me to go the sale without any shame! After all, I do need to check on fabrics for “your” future dresses!!! Let’s see, there’s…well, everything from the 1700’s to the present!
      Yes, I love homemade gifts…to give and to receive.
      Scruff was always with George and this picture is proof of that! Things are better, but George still is lost without him.
      I’ve got to get those little shoes made for Ten Ping… It’s a pretty day… maybe I can take some scraps outside and sit in the gazebo and figure them out.
      Blessings, Jeanne

  4. Jeannie B. in TX

    Sweet little Ten Ping is looking like she is ready to begin a very event filled day. The bright pink fabric that accompanies the Asian theme is the perfect accent on the sleeves and pants. I was thinking that the clothing style of that culture makes such good sense for women. While looking feminine with the long over blouse, having pants underneath offers the ability to bend and crouch down without showing our unders! I think of the struggle we had wearing those mini skirts and sitting at a school desk. yikes. No wonder the nuns had us girls wearing wool pleated skirts to the lower knee – and they did measure!
    So on the note of the bright pink fabric, I will be hitting JoAnn’s to replenish some of my basics that are in short supply in my stash.

    1. Thanks so much Jeannie,
      Ten Ping likes this set even though it’s not done yet…but we’re working on it.
      I liked the tunics worn in the 70’s with pants underneath them. I think there’s a way that they could be made stylish today…need to think on that.
      We’ll have to compare our bargains with each other…to see who “saved the most!”
      Blessings, Jeanne

  5. Love Ten Ping’s outfit! It’s so Asian traditional with a updated look..just like she is! You have the bird and flowers in the perfect place, and the shape of the top flatters her cute tiny shape…that’s tricky and you did it! Maybe next time make her sleeves just long enough to cover her joint? ( IMHO) 🙂
    Oh the titmouse is wonderful…he’s a terrific artist…if some of mine ( if they grow) are bigger maybe we could experiment with a bird or two.

    1. HI Kathie,
      Yes, I have a few things to change on this pattern. I didn’t want the top lined in black so there would be no chance of it rubbing off on dolls. So I lined the tunic in white, but I don’t like it showing that much. I could easily have lined half of the tunic and it would have hit her pants… duh… I should have thought of that.
      Plus making her sleeves longer would have been better… hindsight is always 20/20.
      Yes, you’ll have to do some painting on your gourds…
      Thanks, Jeanne

  6. Waiting to find that ten Ping has new clothes and tomorrow will be the big reveal. A suggestion for shoes is: cut a sole and an insole. Joann’s had thin, puffy type foam sheets in colors a few years ago. Use a ribbon or braid between the soles to go over the instep, adjust and glue. Michael’s sometimes has small cork sheets that make great soles. Cork cuts well. Easier than making shoes which I find stressful. Cutting the soles in one continuous cut was the hardest for me.

    1. HI Jan,
      I’m hoping there’s a big reveal tomorrow…those shoes are giving me fits! I’m using the sticky back felt and it’s okay but not super precise… I agree about cutting them out exactly the same. We’ll see…
      Thanks for the tips Jan,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  7. She sure is cute. The outfit somehow brings out her sweet face. The outfit is beautiful!

    1. HI Sylvia,
      Thanks for your compliments on Ten Ping. She truly is a little cutie and grows on me more each day. I’m glad you like her outfit…now back to those shoes…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  8. What a cute outfit for little ten ping! Good luck with the shoes! I’ll be in Corpus Christi next weekend, so maybe a trip to JoAnn’s will be on the agenda. Hubby will be with me though so not too likely I’ll win the “contest”!

    1. HI Carolyn,
      Maybe you could have JoAnn’s “ship” your things to your house… just a thought!!! Well, if it’s any consolation, I probably won’ win either…
      blessings, Jeanne

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