Happy New Year!

We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!

I am truly excited about the new year for several reasons:

I'm still settling into the new/old house and can see the decorating potential emerging from amongst all that Christmas decor.

I've been yearning for some quality time with my new sewing room and all the wool I've collected recently.

We are planning our first fall craft show and it's time to get busy!

I'd love to hear from y'all.....let me know what you'd like to see from PunkinPatch this year and what goodies you're planning to craft.

Fort Worth followers....

First-
Everyone in and around Fort Worth needs to head to Cabbage Rose on Vickery. They're having the biggest, best sale! I left with a huge bag of fabric yesterday :) They have tons of autumn and halloween fabrics on clearance, including flannels. I have a whole new stash for next year!

Second-
You've seen my posts about our new home....
We're considering hosting a craft show/open house this October. Lots of our own art & craft combined with a select few additional artists. Any input would be appreciated as we plan this event! I can't wait to hear your ideas.....:)
Get in touch with me if you are interested in displaying your wares. More info will be forthcoming as decisions are made and details are nailed down.

New Inspiration

I think most crafters know how difficult it can be to find new inspiration. Occasionally I'm overwhelmed by new ideas and maniacally try to fit loads of new things into the schedule, but this time of year you're more likely to find me grumbling about special orders and making things I know will sell rather than new and fun items. In an effort to stave off holiday boredom and overload I took a class from my very, very creative friend Naomi in wool applique. I have always loved the look of traditional penny rugs but now there are a plethora of new designs to inspire. I found that learning a new stitching method has provided all the impetus I needed to work happily through Christmas. I'm even excited about some new spring ideas.....
If your holiday is too busy to include a class or new project, let me suggest scheduling one early in the year. New skills and fresh ideas are so important. Here are a few things I've completed since the class:

Christmas Spirit

I always boycott Christmas until we've gotten past Thanksgiving....I think we have a tendency to skip this very important family holiday before the madness.
That being said.....

Yay! It's officially the Christmas season!Here's a Christmas freebie for y'all, sorry we haven't posted one in a while. Happy holiday crafting!

To unpack or not to unpack......?

Addendum to the last post about the new house....
Seems as though the cold water situation was not due to my lack of planning! Yay me! After quite a few handy fellas looked at it, an actual plumber needed to spend a few hours under the house rerouting some water lines and uncrossing hot/cold lines. It all seemed quite dire until he finished and presented us with a very small bill. We now have scalding hot water and I've never been so happy to take a shower!
Most everything else has been going smoothly. We ordered our gas stove and it will be delivered Wednesday.....just in time to cook Thanksgiving dinner :) We have so many boxes the house looks a bit like a maze, but I did get the couches cleared off so we can lounge as needed. My cat seems to be calming down somewhat. Those of you who know me also know my cat is a tad neurotic. There is still a load of "stuff" at David's that needs to be magically transported to the house in the near future.....anyone volunteering? Nearly every inch of the house needs some sort of weatherstripping/sealant/caulk and it's getting colder, so we'll have to address that pretty quickly. Otherwise, we're looking good.
I have to thank James and Fairlle for bringing a movie and their great company last night. We wanted to relax a little and they kindly provided much needed entertainment. I hope everyone who helped us move (ahem...broke their backs) knows how much they are appreciated. We know we have the best friends and family! Thank you so much!
Now.....to unpack before Thanksgiving so the pictures look perfect? Naw! Good food with people we love will be just fine. Who cares if we use paper plates and sit on the couch?!

The...ahem...not so seamless transition to the dream home

After the excitement of finding the home of our dreams comes the inevitable backlash....moving in, finding quirks (good and bad), miscellaneous repairs, etc.

We closed on the house mid-week. Our work schedules didn't allow moving until the weekend, so we decided to "camp out" that first night....stake our claim, so to speak. Fun, right? No furniture, just a blanket and pillows, and very excited homeowners.

Our first night as "dream home" owners was spent not sleeping on a very hard floor, freezing and miserable. Together, but miserable. In a fit of organizational pique, I made sure all the utilities (gas, water, electric) were properly set up and operational before closing. I just neglected to have the gas furnaces lit. Ooops...It was 32 degrees that night. Forgot the hot water heater, too. Try an icy shower after freezing and sleeping on the floor all night :-/ Dang it, we have a claw-foot tub and no hot water!
Big sigh.
Dream home.
Oh, did I mention we only got one key? One lone key, and the real estate agent gave us the code for the lock-box and told us to get it ourselves! Still can't get the lock-box off the doorknob, but that's ok because the doorknob doesn't actually work! Thank goodness the deadbolt does. The back door doesn't even have a door knob to complain about.
Big sigh.
Dream home.
Then there's the mirror situation. We have three bathrooms and none of them have mirrors. The only spot to get ready for work seems to be in front of the mirrored door in the den.....it faces the front porch and an enormous picture window. Very pleased to face the neighbors in the morning. Not a closet rod in the place either.
Big sigh.
Dream home.
The second night in our dream house will be accompanied by every stick of furniture we own, approximately 1000 books, working heaters, comfy beds, HOT WATER, and.....
Big sighs....
of contentment and happiness :)

We did actually have fun eating peppermint oreos on the floor under a quilt, walking from room to room making plans for the future, being grateful for our very very good fortune. There will undoubtedly be more days that make us scratch our heads and wonder what possessed us to buy an 86 year old home, but it will always be
Our Dream Home!

Home of PunkinPatch

Welcome to the new home of

PunkinPatch

CraftDesigns!

We are more than a lil proud to show off our new home! Finally we have enough room, personally and professionally....15 rooms should give us sufficient space to create :)

Forgive us if we interject personal updates (decor and home renovation stuff) amidst the craft, pattern, and show updates.
For all our friends, here's the rundown.......

1922 Craftsman/Arts and Crafts/Prairie style, two story home with glowing hardwood floors, two living rooms, two fireplaces, formal dining room, six bedrooms, three baths, a sunroom (aka David's watercolor studio), an adorable sleeping porch/balcony, a six foot cast iron claw-foot tub, the sunniest laundry room ever, and various and sundry period details that make me smile like a fool.

Everyone is welcome to smack us if we grin too terribly much.
And you're all invited to Thanksgiving dinner!



*Vive le potiron!*