{ Not to be outdone }

Yesterday morning I took a photo of my craft room. It is my New Year project, because right now it looks like a hurricane aftermath. It's a small room, and things just get 'shoved' in there and not properly put away. I planned to post said photo for all the world to see to motivate me to 'git 'er done'. Then I got called in to work an extra shift. When I got home at 10'ish last night I decided to blog hop for awhile before turning in. Visited my good friend Deb at Garage Sale Gal and what did I find?? SHE is working on her craft room and hers looks about the same as mine!! LOL!

Here's my pic......

Heinous, isn't it? I'm embarrassed. It's got to be totally rearranged 'cuz I'm out of room. Taking out the table because I really don't 'do' anything in there. I drag my projects out to the kitchen or dining room table, so it's basically going to be just for storage. Doesn't help that it's also our home office. I need to put all of my fabric back in totes and off shelves 'cuz I'm tired of kitties using it for napping places.

Anyway, that's my closet skeleton. Hop on over to Deb's blog 'cuz she's giving away some of her 'stuff' that she's culling from her craft room. I just might do that as well, but don't hold your breath! It's going to be awhile!!!

[ OH WOE IS ME! }

Just when I thought our nice 50-60 degree sunny days heralded a possible SPRING, I woke to this.....

This is the view out our front door. Dumped 7 inches since midnight and it's STILL coming down!!! Guess I will curl up with my coffee and make more of these....

Thank heavens I don't have to work today!!!!

{ It's official...I'm a HOOKER! }

Those of you who follow my blog will remember that I'm trying to re-teach my self crochet, and that I promised to show you my first effort. Well, after MUCH grumbling, much tearing out..stitches AND hair and lot's of internet searching...I finished a Granny Square!! Yay me! It's a little rough, but a good first. Took awhile to get the rhythm and the tension right. I finally settled on this website for instructions. Clear and concise! I plan to make a throw for the sofa, so...one down 98 to go!!

Tell me what you think... and be nice :-)

{ Just checking in... }

Checking in to see how all my blog buddies are doing! My work week is over, so on to some much needed down time. I thought our store would cease being so busy after the holidays, but that hasn't happened yet. Good for business...but not my FEET! LOL! Not much happening on the home front. Laundry and cleaning today so the rest of my days off can be lazy ~grin~.Trying to re-teach myself crochet. My grandmother taught me a LONG time ago, but it's not really like riding a bike! I totally forgot how to do it :-( I really love Granny Squares, but lately I have been enamored by Granny Circles... like this...

 Doesn't look too difficult. I can do that! Once I get my crochet mojo back, I want to do this pattern....

 Aren't these squares to die for??? And the colors! Oh, my! I love it!

I will be sure to show you my progress once I get "hooking" again!!! LOL!

Love to you all,

{ A Little Something I Made }

Couldn't sleep last night. so I got out my box of random Christmas cards, the scissors, the Elmer's and some glitter. Voila!!!

Probably shouldn't have used the cheap Elmer's...I forgot how it wrinkles up paper when it dries...but, oh well! It's still pretty dang cute!!!

{Awesome Holiday Magazine - ENJOY! }

You have to see this beautiful magazine! It's an on-line Holiday mag with 172 pages of luscious decorating ideas!!! Absolutely stunning!!!

((click on the picture))

Be sure to check out the archives for MORE lovely issues of the magazine!

{Pretty}

I just stumbled upon an awesome collage artist while visiting Mary Engelbreit's blog.

Her name is Linda Solovic and her work is so whimsical!

She also has an Etsy store where she sells prints of her work. So sweet and worth the visit!!!

{ooh..I just bought..}

this darling Cottage Coffee Cozy from Sarah of Anyone Can Quilt. I purchased it from her Etsy shop, and I can't wait to get it. It's faboo!

Remember Betsy McCall?

I loved it when we would visit Gramma and she would let me cut up her magazines. My favorite finds were the Betsy McCall paper dolls in McCall's magazine.Well, I was given this link where they have images of ALL the Betsy McCall paperdolls ever printed! AND, they are by month and year. So, I checked it out, and here is what was printed the month and year I was born.

How fun!! Go check out what YOURS is!

New project..

I have had this nice old quilt for ages, unfortunately it has worn beyond repair in places. So, I decided to cut it up and use it for projects.

 

 I believe it is made from feed sacks!

 

 

 

Most of the blocks look like this, with maybe half of the block being salvageable. All of the red stripping is in good shape.

There are only two blocks that are undamaged, so I will probably make a couple of nice pillows from those.

This is the pile I'm left with. I would love ideas of what to do with it all!!!

 

Vintage Trims...

Found a great outlet for vintage trims and ribbons! Enjoy!

Happy December!!

Well, November has come and gone, and with December comes the 'official' start of the Christmas season for our family. We are nearly done with decorating, and it's time to start crafting and baking!!

I'd like to share with you two bloggers who are really into the creative side of Christmas!!


First is Kathy's Cottage. She is hosting a weekly event called "Handmade Holidays" on her blog where you can share your Crafty Christmas projects! Every Monday you can link-up with others who want to share their goodies!


Next is this sweet, sweet blog, "Two Crazy Crafters". Mother-Daughter team Twyla and Lindsey have some scrumptious goodies to share with you! Thier holiday theme colors are PINK & RED!!! Love it!!

Be sure to visit these lovely ladies who work so hard to bring us great ideas for a Crafty Christmas!!

A Snowman tutorial...

If you read my blog, you may have seen this post. Everyone guessed snowman and ya'll were right!
He's finished, so I thought I'd show you how you can make one too!

Gather supplies:
1 garden paver
white latex paint
black and orange acrylic paints & brushes
Polar fleece
white felt

Directions:
Step 1: Paint the paver with two good coats of white latex paint. Let dry completely.


Step 2: Glue a square of white felt on the bottom (his "feet")to protect surfaces.


Step 3: On the top portion, paint face however you like. My carrot nose looks a little funky, and I didn't have his mouth on yet.


Step 4: On the bottom portion, paint his "coal" buttons.


Step 5: Once paints were dry, I put a good thick coat of Polycrylic on and while it was still wet I sprinkled some glass glitter on to make him have a little icy sparkle. Not too much, tho'!




Step 6: While he is drying, cut your fleece. 11' x 11" square for his hat, and a 2" x 22" strip for the scarf.


Step 7: Cut slits in end of scarf piece...about 2" in by 1/4" wide.


Step 8: Wrap it around and tie a square not.


Step 9: Make the hat. Fold 11" square in half with stretchy side on the short side.


Step 10: Sew a very narrow seam up the long, non-stretchy side. Turn inside out.


Step 11: Gather the fleece in your hand and wrap tightly with thread about two inches down. Secure.


Step 12: Cut slits for pom pom. I cut the slits after I wrapped it with thread, but I think it would have been easier to cut it before.


Step 13: Fold up bottom TWICE, about an an 1" each time, put on his head and VOILA!! Sweet little snowman!


This is my first time posting a tutorial, so if there is anything about this that you don't understand, please email me!!!