February 26, 2016 ~ Homemade Walnut Doll

While I was fumbling around in my office/art/sewing room today, I came across the walnut doll I made many years ago. She is made with one walnut, glue from a glue gun, green florist wire and tape, and a few other odds and ends. After she was put together, I made her hat, dress, and apron with the cross-stitch on it. This was back when I was teaching 6th grade English and every afternoon each teacher had to teach one period of a “fun-non academic” class. Of course, I did postcards and crafting. All the children who chosemy room made these and then sewed their little outfits by hand. Yes, I had to teach the boys how to sew, and that was a trip. I bet now they are thankful that they learned how to thread a needle and put it thru the material. I did not make the quilt the doll is sitting on. It is a very old one that I got at the “antique” mall, and it is all sewn by hand.

"The only place where housework comes before needlework
 is in the dictionary.”
~Mary Kurtz  

The November Owl Swap

These are the owls I received from A Fall Owl Swap 

in which I participated over at Debby”s Cozy Blanket.

This one was sent from Holly Crowder at cottonpickinfun.blogspot.com. It is precious standing about 6 inches tall. He’s made from felt with a woolen scarf and a fleece cap with a bell. He is just the cutest guy. THANK YOU HOLLY. I love him. 

Debby, from over at cozy blanket.blogspot.com and the sponsor of our little fall owl swap, sent me this adorable owl. He is sitting on a bed of twigs, and a fabric covered Ball jar lid serves as his stand. THANK YOU, DEBBIE.

This sweet little owl was made by Judy over at 20 North Ora. I am going to hang it on my Christmas tree this year. It is a piece of burlap cut into the shape of an owl with fabric added for wings, buttons for eyes, and felt for the nose. It is petite and oh, so cute. THANK YOU, JUDY.

This is my little treasure Debby sent to me...it is a necklace on a remake of a small pocket watch. I always wore necklaces pins all the years I taught school, and I do not seem to be able to break the habit When I get up in the morning and get dressed, I always hang a necklace around my neck. DEBBY...THANK YOU! THNK YOU! THANK YOU! I LOVE IT!!!

Christmas before last I participated in a Swap for All Seasons where we made 25 decorated, small match boxes and put inside of each a tiny little gift. When I received this larger matchbox from Pam all the way over the pond in Norway, I immediately knew there was going to be something small and special inside. Sure enough there was...a baby owl, a little pillow and a precious little bed with lace on it...and they all fit into the matchbox. They are absolutely the cutest things ever...all homemade with lots of tiny stitches. THANK YOU, PAM. I love my owl baby and its little box tree house. I appreciate all the time it took you to put this together because I am a hand sewer, too. It is sososo creative. Be sure to check out Pam’s blog at Winkels Crazy Ideas.

The following are the owls I contributed to the swap.

My Little Corner of the World ~ DP 10-29-12

I am starting a month long online class this week with Kim Klassen on how to work back and forth between Lightroom3 and Photoshop Elements 10 so I am trying to get ahead of the posting game this weekend. I know nothing about my Lightroom3 so it is going to be tough. Working all day and then coming home to fix supper and then trying to watch the videos and do the assignments is going to be about all I can handle. I will visit y'all as best I can. These well used tools are in my workroom spot where I create my crafts and do my quilting. I use them all as you can tell. The last shot is special because of the "4" and the "6." When my family came to celebrate my 70th birthday at Douthat State Park about 4 years ago, my daughter told me since "70" was so special, I needed "7" presents. She put a number on each. I cannot throw them away because they are some of my special little treasures. It is wonderful how the simplest things can mean so much when they come from your children and grandchildren.

 My light weight hammer...one I can handle with arthritis in the old hands. 

I am always hammering tacks and nails on which to hang thread and other necessary items.

I use my plyers all the time...especially in wreath making. One of my favorite things to make for gifts are knotted seasonal fabric wreaths.

So many sissors...every size and every variety...even some that belonged to my mother like her old Weiss pinking shears. Quilters and crafters can't ever have enough scissors, tweezers, and those scissors doctors use to pull out stitches. They don't cut, but boy do they lock in on what I am wanting to remove. You name it, and I have it in the pile.

Finally, the wire cutters are one of my most important tools. I finally figured out I was ruining my good scissors trying to cut small wire with them. So many of the things I make require bits and pieces of wire. I think with my crafting, quilting, and photography I am going to have lots of things to do for entertainment when I finally close the door on my 50 year teaching career in June. Oh, happy day :-) It cannot come soon enough to suit me.

This post is linked with the following memes this week:

Macro Monday

Weekend in Black and White

Shadow Shot Sunday

It Is Christmas Present Making Time

I am one of those who believes in making her gifts and not buying them. These wreaths were made from scraps of fabrics I had for my quilting. They are so easy to make.  If anyone is interested, I will be happy to upload a tutorial. The first wreath in the second row is made from Mary Engelbreit fabrics, but all of the other are from Christmas colored ones. I have some blogging pals who adore Mary’s things, so I thought they could use the wreaths in their crafting rooms. Here is a list of what I used: circles cut from a roll of multi-purposed 14 gauge wire from Lowe’s, a wire cutter, florist’s tape, pinking shears, and rectangular fabric pieces folded in half and ironed. I tied the fabric around the wire circle in a 1/2 knot, pushed each really close to the one before, and this is what I got. So easy:-) The time consuming part was cutting the fabric and ironing it in half...the rest was a breeze. Not expensive even if you have to buy a 1/4 yard each of some Christmas colored fabrics...and the wire goes a long, long ways - it was $8.00 for the roll. The wreath fabrics are floppy so you can turn and squish them however you like. I have thought about brushing them with  fabric stiffener, but as yet have not had the nerve to give it a try.The countdown is on, so I am well on my way. Need to make another 6, but then I will be through. I have some other little goodies I have made, but I will save them for next week. They are easy, quick, and inexpensive, too.

(The ones in the upper left and lower right are the same wreath...oops...no one is perfect :-)

This post is linked with Mosaic Monday ,Rednesday, Ruby Tuesday, Free Pretty Things.