Needles and a Pen » Knitting, Sewing, and Nursing School

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  • Welcome to my blog!

    Hi! I'm Traci. I'm a Registered Nurse who loves quilting, knitting, cross stitch, and the great outdoors. In my pre-scrubs life, I owned Real Photography, and you can still see my old wedding and portrait photography site here .

    I've created a map that shows links to our camping/hiking/general family fun review posts that you can find here. It's pretty much the coolest thing on this site. Thanks, Google!

    I great big puffy heart *love* comments, so please let me know you visited! I try to always reply!

I am eternally impressed by what a thoughtful, sensitive boy Will is. This evening before bed I asked if he’d like to have a snack with me. I asked if he’d like to have the ambrosia we earlier. He said no, that he didn’t like it. I said ‘really?! It’s whipped cream and fruit!’. But he said he wanted cereal, which was no problem (and meant more dessert for me, anyway). About half an hour later Will gave me a hug and said “I’m sorry to hurt your feelings.” “You didn’t hurt my feelings!” I said, with no idea what he was talking about. “Yes I did,” he said. “I’m sorry for wanting cereal instead of your treat.”

He blows me away. It was not at all a problem for him to have cereal for his dessert, but in thinking over the evening he’d obviously decided that it was rude not to want the treat I’d made.

I cannot wait to see the man he grows up to be, because I’m already incredibly impressed with him at four!

I sat sewing in bed tonight with Will as he fell asleep. We listened to music (his favorite album is the Glee Madonna album) as he fell asleep. The music was interrupted by
Will: I love you, Mommy.
Me: I love you, too, baby.
Will: But I REALLY love you SO MUCH.
I feel the exact same way about this sweet thoughful boy of mine.

rudolph mug rug

Rudolph is complete with a little red polka dot binding!  (I need to find more of this fabric–it’s perfect for Christmas!!)

This mug rug is off to its new owner today along with some goodies.

april - these are ADORABLE!!!! I don’t think i could do rudolph so well….well, mine would probably end up looking more like a cow. But i think i might steal the idea of a mug rug for stocking stuffers 🙂 so CUTE!

Christie, Describe Happy - Oh my this is adorable! This is free motion stitching? Too cool! Gives me some inspiration to give it a go and see what happens! I really like how the binding and nose match. Cleaver!

Christie, Describe Happy - Did I really just write “cleaver?” Ugg! Friday’s!! I mean… “clever!”

Little Bluebell (Adrianne) - Rudolph is ADORABLE!!!

Had a rough afternoon. And the following conversation with Will on the way home from preschool.
Will: Can we go to McDonalds?
me: Sorry, honey–mommy just wants to go home tonight.
Will: But why?
me: I had a rough day.
Will: How come you had a rough day?
me: Oh–it’s okay, sweetie. People just hurt my feelings a little.
Will: Did they say “No thanks, I don’t want you to take my picture?”
(Will knows that I get bummed after a failed consult.)
me: No, sweetie. It’s okay. I’m happy because you’re home now.
Will: But it’s hurts my feelings when they’re mean to you!
And there it is. The root of all ‘your mama’ insults. The cord never really gets cut. You hurt my mommy, by extension you hurt me.

swap mania

I’ve been bitten hard by the swap bug, and right now all projects are swap related–either official swaps or ones I’ve arranged on the side.  Here’s a sneak at some of the projects in work:

Yep.  I free motion stitched the eiffel tower for the scrappy mug rug swap.  (And was super impressed when Will came over and said “I like that Eiffel Tower.”  And when I, astonished, asked how he knew the Eiffel Tower he said “because it’s a building.” D’uh, Mom.

Up next…the top for my pillow talk swap pillow.  I think this one is going on pause until after Thanksgiving–it doesn’t have to be sent until Dec 15th.

This was one of those ideas that rattled around in my head so hard for several weeks that I was going to explode if I didn’t just sit down and do it.  I think this little rudolph will find his way onto a few more things before the year is out!

And a peek at the back of the little rudolph mug rug.  I’m a little obsessed with narrow strips of wonky patchwork it seems!  Oh well, it can be my signature.  🙂

Emily - They’re all wonderful!!! I’m in both of those swaps and would love to be your partner!!! 🙂

Kelly - LOVE the free motion quilting! 🙂 Must sit down and try a bit of that here soon. 🙂

Mom - La Tour Eifel is AMAZING! WOW! And of course, so is the deer. But you KNOW how I love ze Fwench!

Kendra - I just wanted to say again how much I LOVE my eiffel tower mug rug….it will never have a mug on it…its way too special! 🙂 It is hanging proudly in my sewing room. 🙂