nanandbags

Meet Poco, The Epilepsy Service Pug

Yes. I am not joking. I met a SERVICE PUG on my way back from Minni! Oh, I was so HAPPY to see this!  I thought  - YES, I KNEW this could work!

As some of you may know, I wanted Aine to be a Service Pug. Well, that went way south when she just wouldn't come as called at 6 months(you have to start training puppies young!). For those of you who are not familiar with the Pug breed - them's a stubborn bunch. Accent on S.T.U.B.B.O.R.N. & Aine fits that mold. How Puglet's human does it - I wish I knew!

Poco travels with his Human all the time. He even gets to ride in the plane cabin with him!  He reminds his human to take his meds as well as helps him when he has an epileptic attack.  Service Dogs are such a blessing! Will you look at this cutie?!

I have another picy of Poco lurking on my iphone but it isn't as good.  Poco was so cute, these pictures just don't do him justice. I was boarding the plan when I saw him so I didnt have a chance to really chat and give him praises. 

GO YOU POCO. *hugs ya* 

Hope you all have a great weekend... I will be busy felting up a storm and trying -in vain - to teach Aine a thing or two about how GREAT Service Dog-ging is! 

Hugs.. Nan and Aine

 

crafts for the fair!

quick post because between figuring out my re-fi for my house and getting ready for the Cantigney Fall Fest next week, I need to do a short blog! So let's me show you some ott light pictures of what I am creating for the fair! Yea!

Which ones should I do more of?! Or less of?!

Stacked pumpkins...


Or


Snowpeeps (You will see a theme develop here...)


scarecrow or may just leave it like a pumpkin


Angel ( must have been a Sunday!)


St Lucia( yep two religious snow peeps in a row? Sunday felting)


(tiny little doggy- literally an inch long by 1/2 inch tall!)


(should I do a Teddy? Still deciding...)


Love these guys!


Close up & Of course a Pug!


& I have to do this little guy.....


Eeek wish me luck -I have so much to do!!!! Need super power sleep & loads of java! hugs Nan
-- Post From My iPad

Brits Pub le fin or My Anglophile Dream House

I have been an Anglophile since I was 10 years old. I could (& still can!) recite the British Kings & Queens better than the US Presidents when I was in 5th grade - which wasn't really a good thing when I should have been concentrating on memorizing my US Capitols. I happily blame Prince Chuck and Lady Di whole heartily as well as understanding my own personal British connections. To this day, my Mom & I are trying to find what part of England my Ancestors came from pre-1790.

Rummaging thought Brits Pub in Minni made me think- I should start my own virtual Anglophile Dream House!!! But wait, you are most likely thinking- doesn't your house already have drapes of Union Jacks and huge paintings? Alas, no mon a mi. My late hubby had fantastic taste- especially in furniture so it looks more NYC-phile-ish(which he was!) rather than a cute little Cotswold thatched cottage or country manor. Don't worry, there are PLENTY of fun British curiosities we got from traveling over to the UK & from my travels there.

So here is the start of my virtual inspo board- Welcome to my ANGLOPHILE DREAMHOUSE!

Seeing eye dog sponsorships will be on my wall.


With unlimited candy in the cabinet. Unfortunately no British Kit Kats! That needs to be corrected.


Definitely a picture of Queen Vicki will be up.


My shelves with my judge wig. lol


Lawn bowling!!!! Yep my future lawn...


Of course we can prance around in bare feet ...


Okay below is a bit much... But we can edit it!


Here is the start of my future Tea Pot collection-
Cricket teapot- me wants!


Of course, we will all need shirts like this but in a realistic sizes!


What would your *cough* Barbie*cough* Dream would look like?! hugs! nan

-- Post From My iPad

We have a winner! Jenni Bowlin halloween pack!

Yahoooo!!! Thank you all for joining in on the fun... we have a winner! 

sandra said...

all that cool stuff does look expensive!

snowmen! for the upcoming season. also, what about letters? idk for what really, but i can see something written out in just felted letters.

i wanna see more pics!

Congrats SANDRA!!!  EMail me with your addy and it will be on your way!  I have been doing a LOT of Snowman... will post soon.

More of the Brits Pub Part the 2nd will be coming tomorrow. I seriously took a LOT of pictures.  

Also... this is what I meant by the Viking Invasion...  

And that ain't no photoshop folks....

Hugs all! Until tomorrow! Nan

 

The Creative Connection part 4 - Brits PUB, part the first.

So yes. I am on PART 4 of the Creative Connection update!  And I am just giving you the highlights ya'all!

So we are done with the wonderful and inspiring The Creative Connection Event, ergo, must eat.  Where does one go - especially when one is an anglophile? BRITS PUB BABY.

Oh my goodness. I love this place. Want to put it in my pocket and take it home with me. So want to decorate my house this way too - yes complete with flags. *squee*

Lets start the tour shall we?  Brits Pub - part the first. Yes.I.took.that.many.pictures.

Exterior You have to love a place when you have this in the window. PUNK QUEEN! YES!

lol love the Corgi!

Oh and not far away was Chicago's Stanley Cup in building format.....

On weekends Brits is packed and of course my schedule wouldn't allow a dinner there - however- luckily for me - they were open for breakfast right before I left. Phew. I thought - no one will be there....  or so I thought! Sorry for the blurryness but I was sneaking in pictures of OBSESSED Man U fans. I have never seen a) so many Americans up at the crack of dawn to see a Footy game and b) so many Man U jerseys and scarfs in one place in my life on American Soil. You would think I was in the grandstands at a Man U game due to the noise level at 7:30 AM. Yes that is AM folks.( The funniest was when the footie game ended, the Vikings invaded the bar. (*HAR HAR* Get the little English History vs. Minn. American Football joke? Okay. I shall stop...)

Anyways, there were so many people in this part of the bar watching the Man U footy game on a 20 foot high screen, that it was hard to take a picture. Also they gave me dirty looks every time I whipped out my D40. If you ever saw Green Street Hooligans...you would have been happy with this blurry picture too. 

I was hungry so I sat down for a traditional English Breakfast. 

Well not so traditional. Usually an English Breakfast has fried eggs and real toast -served cold. But I was lucky to have baked beans, a banger(sausage) and back bacon. NUM NUM NUM.  I decided to do my own taste test  - back bacon vs. strikey (our American Bacon) to see what was better. I recalled that when I was in England - I always thought the Back Bacon was just way to salty...  (American Bacon on the left, British Back Bacon on the Right)

... folks, I could have just sat there and eaten both bacons all day long... they were SOOOOOO good. oh my goodness. I am drooling now just thinking of it.  Which one to you looks better? 

Part the Second Tomorrow.... because I got to go felt ya'all!

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Please enter my contest from a few days ago -Sunday is the day I pick my winner! Remember to suggest something I should felt!!! HUGS! Nan

*squee* I am in a Treasury!

*does happy dance* OH. MY. GOODNESS!!

My WEE little Georgie, the Tea Party Baby Elephant is in a Treasury!! 

See the link:http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c9a8d34f3d86d914cc06695/election-season-heats-up?index=0

Well I guess it is time to debut Hope, the Democratic Donkey. However, she is a bit nakers at the moment.  So let me just show you her face....

Isn't she CUTE!?! Sorry a bit biased I am. When she is complete I will show you the rest of the get-up.

Okay I am off to felt - it is only 15 more days till the Cantigny Fall Fest and I have little time to felt muchly. 

Hugs! Nan

PS - Please remember to go to my blog the other day and put in something you want me to felt! You could win a Jenny Bowlin kit!!! Hugs! Nan

Lottie the Kat and Sebastian the Bunny, an Introduction.

 'ello every-body.  

My name is Sebastian. I am new to The Drawing Room at Aineburgh Hall. AKA Nan's studio. I was created this weekend in the Vintage Toy Workshop taught by Jennifer Murphy.

But I am not the only new critter. No.Sir.re.BOB. 

"Hi! I am Sebastian, what is your name?" 

"MEOWWWW, I am Lottie, the Kitty Kat from Jennifer Murphy Studio. I was adopted over the weekend. I am here to inspire Nan and keep all her wee little pins in order."  

"Great. 2 other critters in the studio.  NOT PLEASED!" says Aine.

 

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Did you remember to comment for the RAK? If not, please see yesterdays post! Remember to comment on what you would like to see Needle Felted. 

Hugs! Nan, Aine, Lottie and Sebastian.

The Creative Connection: Part 3 - the big post of goodness and did someone say GIVE AWAY!?!

First off - who wants a giveaway? I have an extra Jenny Bowlin kit from the Tiffany Windsor PJ Party.  Is it not cute or WHAT?
In order to enter, please reply with an idea on what you would like to see me create with needle felting. Use your imagination! It could be an ornament, a doll, a homage to Dr. Who. ANYTHING! I will leave open until this Sunday - so please comment!   Lets talk about the HandMade Market!

Earth Angels has just gorgeous creative goodies.

 

Than there is Tinsel Trading. 

Oh my GOODNESS. Needless to say, I spent a LOT of money here. Awesome supply store.


 


*points up that is what I bought - will you look at the eyes? SQUEE*

But let us not forget some of the great and insightful panels... Here is a picture of the Editorial Breakfast sponsored by Better Homes and Gardens.  Left to right: Nancy Soriano, former Country Living Editor in Chief; Nicole McConville of Lark Crafts;Christen Olivarez, director of publishing and editor-in-chief for Stampington & Company (btw she is only 27 years old! Isn't that fabulous?!)Tonia Davenport of North Light Craft Book; Jo Packham,entrepreneur with her own publishing company, Chapelle, Ltd and creator of Where Woman Create Magazine; Deb Gore Ohrn, Editor-in-Chief of Better Homes and Gardens Creative Collection Group and lastly Mary Jane Butters,of Mary Jane Farms.  This panel was extremely interesting. I never knew the reason why it took so long to publish a book (sometimes over a year!) and now I know! So insightful!!!

Lastly the cupcake farewell party.... Here is me and Tammy. 

And here are the nummy cupcakes....

Well believe it or not... we are not done.... I still have to go through my Iphone pictures and one of my new found favorite spots...oh.... and we need to do an introduction.....

Hugs Nan!

 

 

The Creative Connection Event Part 2

Before I forget - I am so happy to announce that I will be teaching a Trick r Treat box class at Craft Fancy the last Wednesday in September and on the first Saturday in October! Soooo excited about this class! We will be using Claudine Hellmuth Paints and Graphic 45 Halloween in Wonderland line which I adore! You may even get a little felting gifty from me....*whistles*

(Photo credit above and below- Craft Fancy)

Now let's get back to The Creative Connection PM Day one!

Me and Amy Butler-seriously an amazing and inspiring business woman. The great thing is that she grew organically and that gives me great comfort!

Here are some pictures from the making of my little bunny in Jennifer Murphy class. First the arms....

Than we connect the arms to the body stuffed with excelsior. I now know why Jennifer has such great Michelle Obama arms- it is the excelsior ! Lol

Ohhhh now we are almost done! BTW- see that Kitty in the background? I BOUGHT HER!!! More pictures to come on the prettiest pin cushion ever!

*EDIT* my bad!  Danielle Muller of www.thevintagedragonfly.typepad.com  made the cutie puttie  Bunny with the ear turned down... Please check her out  as well as Alyssa's - So glad to have met both amazing artists!!!!Alyssa Thomas of Penguin & Fish.

The Bunnies are hitting on Jennifer's Teddy....because he has mittens.

And at 10pm I went to bed on Thursday.

Here is a sneak peak for tomorrow:

1)a give away *Squee*

2)Lastly will you look at the panel? And yes, Heather Bailey does have gorgeous hair- as well as the other panelists. lol

I would have loved to have spent hours with them! They were so insightful.


Hugs & until tomorrow- Nan

-- Post From My iPad

The Creative Connection- Part 1

I am back from one of the most awesome and amazing conventions I have ever been to. I just don't know where to begin!

Well let's start with some items I made for the event....
A lucky four leaf clover...


A poppy- I love the wearing of poppies to remember our troops. Such a great tradition in America and the UK.


After repacking three times(yes three!), I flew to Minni & met up with my swap buddy & partner in sewingTamara Hensley an extremely talented fabric designer. We went to Hells Kitchen & stuffed ourselves silly.

Our days were jammed packed- starting out on one day at 6:45 AM! The speakers were amazing -between The Pioneer Woman, Amy Butler & Mary Jane Butters, Heather Bailey, Crafty Chica..It is hard to pick which one was my favorite.

Here are some highlights from just the morning and afternoon of Day 1:

Lunch with REE! She gave some insightful advice and was hysterical at the same time. I am now an obsessed fan. I just bought potatoes to make her twice baked potatoes. OH! Her Mom-in-law is Nan too! GO NANS!!!lol


Ree sitting next to reporter from The New Yorker....

Will you look at the meal that was inspired by her cookbook?! NUMMY.


Yes we got 'stashes...


Next up: Making Vintage Toys!!!


Me and Jennifer Murphy! She is such an amazing teacher. I can go on and on how much I learned from her. I am totally jazzed to start surgery on my Teddy but need to get more supplies before I start. SQUEE!!!

And I have not EVEN talked about Amy Butler nor the autograph party!

Until tomorrow..... Xoxo Nan
-- Post From My iPad