Teddy Bear-- Teddy Bear

Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground,

Teddy bear, teddy bear, reach up high,

Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the sky,

Teddy bear, teddy bear, bend down low,

Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch your toes,

Teddy bear, teddy bear, go to bed,

Teddy bear, teddy bear, rest your head,

Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn out the lights,

Teddy bear, teddy bear, say "good night".

I used to say this poem with my son Alex--who is now almost 24 :)  I have always loved teddy bears-- Whether it be their well loved fur-- with a bare patch or two-- or the sweet expression on their faces, there is just something about them that is so endearing to me.

I recently purchased a wonderful book from Amy Sinibaldi of NANA COMPANY  called Sweetly Stitched Handmades.  It is filled with lovely projects to stitch. I can't wait to try them all.  I started with the project near and dear to my heart--you guessed it---a teddy bear.

This little rattle was so much fun to make--I made two (for now)   Amy also recently shared her pattern to make the sweetest bear softie on her blog.  The pattern  is free and can be found by clicking here.  I think the two together along with a teddy bear onesie  would make the perfect gift to welcome a new baby.  

I made one for Claire, the little girl I babysit, and you can see she loves it.

Stay tuned for more Teddy Bear love--there is a pillow in Amy's book that I am just dying to try :)

My Favorite Place

Do you have one of those places that you love to visit over and over again.    That place where each time you visit you make more wonderful memories so that when you leave it calls you back time and time again. For me that place is Berlin, Ohio.  After my Dad passed away,  Alex and I just wanted to get away for a few days--away but not too far.  We had heard how beautiful it was in Berlin and because it is only about 2 hours from home we decided to give it a try.   This coming April  marks four years since our first visit.   We have just arrived home from an overnight stay and let me just say it is just as wonderful today as it was on our  first visit.  What makes this place so special you ask?  I think the best way to answer that question is to share with you some of my many photos of this beautiful place.  We have visited during every season so you will be able to see what Berlin is like year round.
Berlin is located in the heart of Amish country.

Exploring is one of our favorite things to do during our visit.  The back roads are dotted with beautiful farms and fields. .  Sometimes the roads cut right through the farm property.  

And of course there is the little town of Berlin.  Filled with wonderful shops where I have found many treasures.  We are always sure to eat at Boyd and Wurthmann.  If you want comfort food this is the place to go--chicken, mashed potatoes, meatloaf, country fried steak, fried mush with homemade sausage gravy, buckwheat pancakes, and too many homemade pies to list. 

 Every town needs a quilt shop and Berlin has a few.  My favorite, Miller's Dry Goods.  Alex usually drops me off and heads to the local coffee shop to wait for my return--always with loads of wonderful fabrics.

After all the exploring and shopping are done for the day,  we head to the most wonderful Inn for the evening--- The Inn at Honey Run

The Inn offers two places for lodging.  You can stay in the main building--which is completely wonderful--or you can stay in their Honeycomb rooms.  These rooms are set apart from the main building built directly into the hillside above the Inn.  The Honeycomb rooms have become my favorite place to stay.  

There is a fireplace in every room and you have your own private patio.  I have never seen stars so bright as when we sit on this patio at night in the Summer.  

The Inn's property is amazing.  There are beautiful walking trails------

and a pond for fishing....

The barn and pasture at Honey Run is home to their very own flock of sheep.  

This is Annie--their first lamb of the year--born January 15.  ( I borrowed these photos from their newsletter as it was much to cold this stay to visit with the sheep.  They were snug inside their little barn)

This is just a small sample of why this place is so special to me and if I could I would be back there in a heartbeat.

Where Do I Begin??

  Two years is a long time to be away.  I had just intended on taking a small break from my blog--a few months to just catch up on life's responsibilities.  Well those months have turned into years and here I am asking myself where did that time go.  So much has happened in those two years--weddings--new babies--birthdays--new friends new creations--happy times--sad times--celebrations-- too much to include in just one blog post.  So the question I am faced with as I awaken my sleeping blog is----Where do I begin?

As a young girl growing up I spent my Summer days with friends enjoying their swimming pool.  I always had so much fun once I finally eased my way into the water.  I can remember my friends telling me "the best way to get in is to just take the plunge and JUMP RIGHT IN".  So I will follow that advice as it applies to my blog and  just JUMP RIGHT IN sharing a few new creations from my sewing room.

It feels so nice to be back---

Sunday Sewing

Over the weekend Alex was out of town on a business trip and my son, the other Alex :) was busy doing what 21 year old boys do sooooooo I had the whole weekend to myself.  What's a girl to do with all that time on her hands????   You guessed it ----SEW.  I stayed indoors, snug and warm , all weekend just my sewing machine and I.  Oh and the dogs of course :)  They didn't mind  at all that  I watched chick flick after chick flick as long as I stopped long enough to fill their bowls  with breakfast and dinner :)  I thought I would share with you today all that I got accomplished.  I even made something totally new.  I will save that for last. 
First another darling pattern from ElfPop.  This pattern is called Saffron.  I just love her little bob haircut. 

I added the little white flower and cherry overalls.

Next I worked on a few Crinkle Taggie Blankets

And lastly I tried my hand at making this sweet "Lovey Dovey" using a new pattern that I purchased from Abby Glassenberg. 

The pattern includes directions to complete four lovies--a kitty, a bear, a puppy and the bunny.  I just loved this idea--a sweet little animal face attached to a soft blankie body.  I thought they would make a perfect first toy for babies to hug and hold.  This was the first time I attempted to sew a pattern that included a head gusset.  It was a little tricky for me but I think I got the hang of it.  I am sure after a few more of these cuties I will have it mastered. 

Now I just need it to stop snowing so that I can get to the fabric store to purchase the right colors to try the other lovies.  Now that Alex is home I see a trip to JoAnn Fabric in his future ;)   Happy Wednesday everyone!!!