New toys

I got an ipod touch for christmas... So we'll see if it helps me post any more

Fall Placemats

So here they are... my newest creations. I'm really quite excited about them. I've wanted new placemats for a while, and fall seemed like a great time to make them. Now my only issue is I only made 8. Four of which on on Etsy and the other four are going to Luzetta's in Vale to be sold in the store, which leaves me with none to use. That's ok though, if they sell it will be worth it, and if they don't then I can still use them next year.

I made these with my kitchen in mind, but you are reading this and really like them also, but want a different boarder fabric I can do that (well not with these, they are finished), but with-in two weeks (or faster) I can turnout another set. (Since I have to order the fabric it takes longer than usual).

On other news (I should have taken a picture) I'm getting really good at making butter. It takes longer to make than I thought, but it's pretty tasty. Maybe next time I will try to add herbs to it and see how that goes. Creamery and Crafts in one week....I've feeling pretty proud :-)

Barnyard Buddies Blanket

This is the baby blanket I've been working on for a while...that's not completely true, it's been done since Easter I just took my time putting the binding on. I'm not sure whether to keep it as a future gift, or put in a local auction where the money goes to a children's nursery. It's on Etsy right now so if it sells great, and if not I'll have to make a decision in a week.

I need to get a better picture this one is a little dark :-p

Not much other progress. Canning is on pause for now. More tomatoes and salsa to do soon, but not today. So far I have 21 quarts of tomatoes and as many various size jars of salsa. Jason doesn't think any of which is 'hot' enough. Maybe the 3rd time will be the charm.

So this is what I have been busy working on for the past month. Lots and LOTS of new bags. The green one is mine, but I have the fabric to make another one just like it. I am super excited as I added zippers to the inside of the two larger bags. That was the one thing I didn't like about mine, so I may have to buy one :-) They are for sale on Etsy if anyone is interested.

I am still working on binding for a flannel baby blanket. And my Christmas sampler quilt needs binding as well. However my evenings have been taken up with canning and freezing with harvest in full swing so I doubt they will get done till frost occurs. Actually come to think of it I want to put them in a quilt show in Oct....Ahhh I guess I better get to work.

Soooo It's been awhile...

For those of you who might actually read this, sorry it's been so long. I have been a little busy, but not really that busy. The garden is in, and we picked our first peas yesterday- 6 cups worth. Of course the chickens really enjoyed the pile of pods that were left over. I also got enough strawberries and rhubarb to make a cobbler and freeze some. The cobbler is pretty tasty, thanks to recipes.com :-)

I'm supposed to training for a race, but Erin will never decide on which one she wants to do with me, so I'm just running as much as I can in the heat. Speaking of heat, the outside thermometer hit over a hundred today. Of course it sits in the sun, but that's still hot enough. 105.7 is the current temperature. I'm glad I did my run at 10:30am and not at 1:30pm. Jackson and i were going to go for a bike ride on his new bike trailer I bought off of craigslist. But a piece was missing and we couldn't attach it to the bike :-(. I ordered it online, and it should be here next week.

Projects? Well I need to take a few photos. I finished two quilts, and am working on the binding. Anna-Marie bought one of them, and the other is going on Etsy in the next week or two (or whenever I get the binding on and the pictures uploaded).

My mom will be here next week. Maybe then I can catch-up. :-) Until then...

M

Time gone by..

On the 7th of May I held a babyshower from my brother-in-law, and in the process made 3 different projects. It was a lot of work that sort-a burnt me out a little on sewing. Actually it was those projects that made me decide that I need another machine. Everytime I tried to sew something thick my machine would bunch-up the fabric and eat thread like a two year old eats hotdogs. It was HORRIBLE. Ever since I haven't sewed a bit and have been on Ebay 4 times a day looking for a good deal. I've bid on two machines with no luck, but I feel I'm getting closer. Luckily I found something to pass the time... "Mortal Instruments" series of books. OMGoodness they are amazing! Ok really they are easy reading teen vampire/werewolf/angelboy books that are a quick read and take you to a new place you haven't been and your two-year old doesn't exist. I finished the fourth and last book published yesterday and went right to cutting out fabric. So it was a needed break.
On another note Jason, Jackson, and I all went to Canby and then to Portland for a long weekend. Jason had work stuff to do so Jackson and I got to go to the zoo and the Portland Children's Museum. He had a lot of fun. I imagine everything wasn't as super cool b/c he doesn't get all of what he saw (to be honest he was more interested in the toys the polar bears were playing with than with them), but it was a great experience none the less. In true NC Stater fashion I bought him a stuffed wolf to remember his trip by- he LOVES IT! I also took him to one of the largest fabric stores ever (Fabric Depot). Which was dangerous to my wallet, but gave us a chance to get out of the hotel on time :-). We saw lots of friends and old neighbors on the trip, so all in all it was wonderful. I'll post some pictures soon, I promise.

Mary

Two quilt tops

I have been quite busy lately trying to use-up some fabric that I have been "stashing" for a while. Yesterday I finished my second quilt top out of the line. Well sorta finished, the first one I want to do a barn and tractor applique on so it's not technically done yet, but all the real sewing is done. They are super cute and will be up for sell in about a month or so (or whenever they get back from the quilter). I'll post pictures when they are all said and done.

Now I can feel better about wanting to go and do the Treasure Valley ShopHop.

In need of separator

As the title hints at, we are in need of cream separator. Well, I am in need of one. After I thought I had pulled off "cream" from our last batch of milk it turnsout it was more milk. A few more tries at manual separation and a few hours later turnsout I am no good as figuring what is "cream". My "butter" wasn't even whipped cream after I was through with it. Actually it was whipped cream, which when whipped too much destroys the "milk fat globules" and just makes a milky/watery mess. After that experience it might just be best to invest in an actual separator. Granted we do have two of the old kind sitting on our deck (ready for flowers), but I think a newer, cleaner, less rusty model would be better.

New Dog, Projects, and BUTTER!

Hello all ya'll! It's been a busy month. Sorry I haven't written much. It's currently 8am and I have a load of washing going and an extra baby to watch so I will try to be brief.
1. We got a new DOG! She is 2yrs old, and her name is Harley. She is super adorable (as all black labs are), and so far hasn't killed any chickens! Actually she is supposed to hunt really well, and if her fetching skills are any sign she may be the best dog I have ever seen. She's good with Jackson and Wally so we feel pretty good about her.
2. Projects- or lack there of. With helping at the farm while the in-laws were gone, and a sick baby the rest of the time, my sewing machine has been neglected. Hopefully this weekend I can get few stitches in.
3. BUTTER! I made my first batch of butter. There was a serious learning curve as I had to pull cream off 3 times before I had enough cream to actually make butter. Jason thinks it's good, I'm not that impressed. It smells too creamy for me (I think it's because of all the work getting the true cream). I plan to make another batch in a few days, hopefully it goes more smoothly. I did find a farm in NY that makes just butter and yogurt from their Jerseys. I am hoping to get in touch with them this next week.
-M

Quilt and Bags for Sale

For Sale on Etsy
I made this for my Mom for her Birthday. I have enough to make another one if anyone is interested.

For Sale on Etsy
For Sale on Etsy

Etsy shop is up and running

Ok Folks I officially have an Etsy shop! Located at:

http://www.etsy.com/people/CreekerCrafts?ref=si_pr

On it you will find my three items for sale. If any family or friends are interested in these products let me know as I might be willing to let them go for a little less ;-)

Things are going better here. Hope things are good out there!

Mary

Sad day...

Today is a sad day in our household. Last night one of our dogs, Addie, died. This a picture of her back in October. We have the dogs on a collar system, but she had been running through it for the past few weeks (however never towards the road). She was in heat so we are not sure if that had something to do with her escaping. None the less it's a sad day around here. Our German Shepherd (Wally) is pretty sad too. He doesn't want to leave the house.

We also lost our best laying hen last night too. She did lay one last egg though which was nice. I guess it's sorta fitting that one of the few chickens Addie didn't kill the first round died the same day she did.

Luckily Jackson's too young to understand all this, and I am sure we will be on the lookout for another puppy in no time as Wally is no hunting dog.- Mary

Projects, projects, and more projects

Ok. So I am going to finally share this. Don't laugh, and maybe don't check in everyday. I am a little busy for that, but I did just watch Julie and Julia for the 2nd (or 3rd) time and was reminded that doing this makes me accountable. So here it goes:

I bought a pasteurizer online last week!!! YAY. It should be here next week sometime. We will start with just milk and go from there. But also after watching Julie and Julia I was reminded how much people really do use butter (and how WONDERFUL it is). Did you know it is actually healthy for you? I have research to prove it! (Just don't use too much too often...moderation). Hopefully the butter making process will go well :-)- Creamery side getting closer.

More importantly (well b/c it's done). I have finished my first quilt for sale! Actually I have a quilt and a bag (that don't match) for sale! I will post picks soon, but the quilt is a baby or toddler quilt. Uni-sex. And has an almost rustic look to it. The bag isn't my favorite piece, but someone might like it. It's very, VERY Americania. Red, White, and Blue with a floweral touch. Pictures also to come.

Projects... Ahhh. I have two BOM (blocks of the month) I am working on. The one is simple (local quilt shops Sat. Sampler) the second...well it's difficult to say the least. It's the 150th Civil War anniversary quilt BOM from 2010. Our local quilt shop started it a year late and it is a challenge level above me. But I am trying to meet the challenge though it's not so easy. Other projects on board- more quilts to sell (as I need to raise money for a new machine and more quilting supplies), two or more baby gifts (not blankets before Aug.2nd ish), and what every else I can get myself into. I have finally finished all the blocks from last years shop hop (more quilt lingo, sorry- I will explain later) that I NEED to make into a top before April 7th (this year's shop hop :-). Deadline? hahaha. just a few.

So here we go. (Oh did I mention I am sick today? I have stomach virus or something. I cannot even sew much less eat. So I thought I would type instead :-p)
-M

Getting the kinks out

I have yet to share this site with anyone, but I may not be far off now. I'm starting to figure this out a little bit more. And since Derek and Claire want updates on the farm progress I might better get going.

Off to finish my Civil War block. And read about Fort Sumpter (the first battle in the war fought in SC).

Mary

Backing...

WOW. I went to Craft Warehouse today and made some purchases for quilt backs (they were having a sale). Backing is not cheap. But it's going to be totally worth it once the quilts are all the way done. Now I have more motivation to finish tops! I also got a few FQ to work with. (Reproduction fabric of course:-))

Up early

Jackson awoke with a start this morning at 6:30am. I going to guess Dad must have startled him. However, after a little snuggling in Mom's bed he was ready for the day in a much happier mood. Two scrambled eggs in and a half of piece of raisin bread he seems pretty happy! I doubt I'll get any sewing done till nap time, but that's ok.

Baby Quilt for Baby Blackney. I pieced the top and my mother-in-law quilted it.

This summer we made a stop at the Brothers rest stop. As you can see it was a bit windy. That's me with Jackson. He was 1 in then (and in need of a haircut).

Why am I doing this...

Well I've been thinking for about 3 years now that I should start a website dedicated to all my many talents (LOL). In reality I do have a few things that my many friends all around might be interested in and maybe I will meet a few new friends along the way. This blog has a few goals:
1. To give some incite into our daily life here in Willowcreek, Oregon. (Hence the name Creeker).
2. To provide a way for me to showcase a few of my creative creations (Quilts, Bags, etc...) in the hopes to gain a little money for my obsessive habit.
3. Also to provide a showcase of my "soon to be" creamery, and the trails and struggles associated with it.
4. Lastly, to answer any and ALL (and I mean ALL) questions pertaining to animal operations. I don't call myself an expert, but I have been around all types of livestock and poultry operations, and currently help to manage a dairy. So if you are quizical as to what it's like ask me! No holds. I feel the truth is far less scary than what people perceive it to be. Of course if this becomes more of blog about animal life than my life I might start a different blog to work on that. But we'll get there when we get there.

That's it. I will post as often as I can. Right now Jackson is napping so I might get a few things done (like a thread catcher bag...:-)