Joanne Carpenter's Pink Poodle Book

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Joanne Carpenter's Pink Poodle Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

FINALLY - my That's Clever episode will air 01/12/10!

I'm so excited. This morning I checked the HGTV website to see if my segment would air soon. Hurray - it will be on next Tuesday, 01/12/10 on HGTV (Comcast channel 47) at 6:30 AM. My dvr is all set to record it. I just need to learn how to download the dvr to a vhs tape. Then I'll take it to the Digital Media Library and convert it to a dvd. Then on to my blog and Utube, of course.

I'm posting the photo of the actual poodle that I completed during the filming. The crew called him the "hero." If you are interested in seeing how the poodles are made, I will also provide a link to my step by step photo album.

Christmas stockings

My package didn't arrive in time for Christmas. But, Kevin & Tomoko received their gifts on another important holiday - 12/28/09.

I made them cowboy-themed stockings. Kevin's stocking is lined with fabric that I bought in Hawaii - has cat bride and groom print.

I lined Tomoko's with the hunky cowboy fabric that I bought at at a local quilt store. (I knew I'd come up with a use for it!) I told her that all the men in Houston look like that. I'm trying to encourage them to move to Houston.

Next year, if they are still in Japan, I'll mail their package in November.

More Christmas photos

Here are some more photos. I gave Lupita a Venetian mask. Andy gave Jim silk pajamas to wear at the "office." Woodie gave Mom a huge box of chocolate.

2009 Christmas

We had a nice Christmas this year. Would have been perfect if Kevin and Tomoko could have been with us.
Andy made a great brunch - lobster quiche, cookies, fruit, cake, salad. Woodie came, too. Later on Jimmy and Lupita came over. We had to give Mom just one gift at a time because she would just start ripping them open. She has become so childlike. She opens and eats up her candy right away, too.
Andy and Woodie left around 3 PM so then the 4 of us played cards. Of course, the girls beat the boys.
Kevin and Tomoko sent us all some weird and interesting presents from Japan. I got a beautiful Burberry tote bag.
The only downer is that my gifts still have not arrived for Kevin & Tomoko. I had made them some cute Christmas stockings to decorate their apartment, too. Oh well, as long as they get them eventually. Tomoko has to go check out the post office. Kevin can't speak good enough Japanese yet.

2009 Holiday Jacket

I wanted a royal blue jacket with little snowflakes on it. I didn't have a blue sweatshirt so I used this dark green one. The large fleece snowflakes came from an estate sale. I "made it work." I cut 3 of the snowflakes in half and appliqued them to the front opening. I made a pocket from the sweatshirt's bottom binding and appliqued a snowflake on it. There are 3 more snowflakes on the back.

I finished the edges with some dark green binding that I just happened to have on hand. The white trim was also in my stash.

Using what I had inspired me to create something very different from my original concept. I've never seen any jacket like this one. It turned out quite stylish. I'm very pleased with it!