Showing posts with label Holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holiday. Show all posts

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Toadstool ornament happiness!

My annual Christmas ornament swap is done....all ornaments have been sent and received.

This year, the theme was toadstools and the ornaments did NOT fail to impress!   I love this group of artsy girls, we always have fun!  The only sad thing is that I forgot to take photos of
all the ornaments!   I was so busy packing them to ship, that it slipped my mind.

That being said, here is a small sampling of those I did get photos of:






Saturday, September 24, 2016

Stash busting!

I haven't been sewing AT ALL lately but today I made a couple collars for Osa.
She looks so cute in the LSU one!

Then I covered a little footstool for her. 

The steps I made a couple years ago finally died.....with the help of little  children using them too.

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Swap announcement

Time for my annual Halloween swap!  Check it out at
yarnigrasswapperspot.blogspot.com

Hope to see you there!  

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Mardi Gras Magic Ball Scarf

So AFTER Mardi Gras, I decided beads just didn't hack it.   The colors are great but they aren't very warm..... I wanted to make something fun to wear for Mardi Gras on those chilly outings.

I couldn't find any yarn I liked so I decided to make my own magic ball of yarn and crochet a scarf like the ones I've done before....including this one.



I started collecting yarn and then my friend said she wanted to play too.  She is knitting her's using the Lady Godiva pattern.  I won't have a photo for a long time as she isn't making it until right before next Mardi Gras.  I went ahead though and just crocheted mine.  It is FAB!




Now for details.  If you want to make your own, you need to do some research.  I wanted a nice warm scarf with a little heft to it.  So, I made my ball a bit like the Alp Oriental with some heavy yarns mixed in with lighter yarns.  I also bought a couple spools of skinny soft ribbon and one spool of beaded thread.  If I could do it again, I'd buy more of the beaded thread...it gives an amazing sheen to the area it is in.  Having a person to share the cost and yarn with is a good idea.  We went through our stash and saved a lot of money but I spent $40 bucks after it was all said and done.  Jeannine had great yarns so she didn't spend a penny. I keep my "leftover" stash low on purpose....you might be able to make an entire magic ball without spending a cent.

Here is what I did:
*Go out and OVERBUY lots of yarn, ribbon, beaded thread, etc.  Save receipts you will be returning some.  You want thick and thin, basic and fantasy (eyelash is fantasy in my view), threadlike will offset super thick but make sure it won't get lost.  I used gold threads mixed with softer but heavier greens, etc.  You'll be in the yarn section a long time so plan on it!  I was approached 2 times by ladies who wanted me to teach them what I was doing.  One actually took notes!
*Take the supplies home and figure out which ones really work well together and put the rest back for returns.
*Weigh each ball or make note of what it says on the label. Since you are mixing and matching, this matters. Include ribbon, etc.
*Determine weight: I made a ball of 10 ounces.
*I held FOUR strands of yarn together.  All types.    The green eyelash was TOO much for me so after making the scarf, I went in and gave it a hair cut.  The purple and gold eyelash was perfect.
*CUT YOUR FRINGE before tying all your yarns together.  You want a good representation of all yarns and ribbons used.   I used a dvd case and went around it 20 times for each end.  Set aside in a baggie or safe place.

I decided to make each "cut" 4 arm lengths long. Then I just went through picking which yarns I wanted to hold together.   Ribbons and beaded thread were just added as I went along, to make it interesting.  I rolled as I went.  (NOTE, if you go along and don't like something, you can always snip that length out and swap it. )


***Once everything was done, I re rolled it starting from the end because I used my favorite yarns first.  (I hadn't noticed I did that.)  I wasn't really sure how thick I wanted to make it.  I'm glad I did it that way because I didn't make it as wide as planned.  Mine is about 7 inches wide.

To make, I used a P hook and chained until I felt it was long enough, (I'm short)  keeping in mind I was adding fringe. Then I worked a double half crochet throughout until it was wide enough.  When I finished, I added the fringe.

It was a very fun project and I'll be doing it again.  The prep work is easy to do.  Just pull stuff out, tie it together and go.  It is time consuming but I did it while watching a movie.












Monday, February 1, 2016

week in review....


All the green stuff in this amazing salad was from our garden....I planted red and green leaf lettuces, romaine and arugula...along with green onions.  It was SO good.  We had another one Sunday night...just added chicken to it.  


Kaela came home from school the other day needing a little hot cocoa and momma time.  It does my heart good that she still seeks me out.....


Getting a little snuggle time in while I knit.  She hates the camera.  As soon as you point it at her, she wakes up.....uncanny!


And trying desperately to get a little affection from Suki.  She misses Leo so much and is enamored of Suki....but she is just too bouncy for her.  Maybe when she gets a little older.


a little mantle and front door bling....



Looking forward to a little time off for Mardi Gras.........

Monday, December 21, 2015

Nutcracker Nadine

Each year I host an ornament swap.  I wanted to send something special to one of the ladies.  She is so selfless.  She always creates the most AMAZING ornaments...and this year, she sent in a special treat bag for each of the participants.

She joins all my zombie doll swaps so while wracking my brain on what to make her, I decided a Christmas themed zombie doll would do the trick.

I know, I am so out of control....but here she is in all her glittery gory (oops, GLORY!)

Nadine:



I wrote a little poem to go with her of course, half the fun of creating these dolls is "telling" why they are zombies!



Oh, and she already has a boyfriend!  Of course, he had no IDEA that she was going to eat him for dinner after their "date.!"  That was fine with me, he was born in 1969, WAY too old for a young thing like Ms. Nadine!



Here is a little music to start your week....just imagine Nadine as the "star!"

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Ornament swap tree

Each year I host this swap and each year I love what is lovingly made and sent in.
This year was no different.   

I admit, I was so busy that I almost didn't host it but then I decided to do it anyway....I had an email from someone unexpected asking when I was hosting...and I just couldn't say no!

 Hosting takes a lot of time.  The hardest part is sorting the ornaments to give "balance" to everyone's return box...it is no easy task.  

That being said, I always make a few different ornaments as I try to give every box at least 1 little "extra."

Here is what I received this year:

A sweet snowman atop a jingle bell (and YES, my daughter absconded with it right after the photo was taken!)  I'll be stealing it back when I pack them away!




A fun santa in a boot scene, reminiscent of the vintage style I adore.



A cute Ruddie!  Simple and sweet with a cute scarf.  Some even had glitter noses!






and a fun lollipop!



A few people made me an extra for hosting.  Some I had to use to balance out a few boxes, but I did get to keep this lovely doe in a storm of words....she is much prettier in person, all glittery and perfect.




and this wire and beaded tree topping star....



I put them all on a small tree I made for the bar using another urn. (yet, another craptastic to fantastic tree.)   

I filled the rest in with some other ornaments I made or received from past swaps.  


Here is one side:



and the other....



Peeking out from the back is the snowman head I made this year.  I truly adore all my handmade lovelies and thank all the participants who work SO HARD to create lovely ornaments to share with the group.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

HAPPY 4TH!





I was thinking about today and immediately thought of things I am thankful for.  I know I'm a few months early...it isn't Thanksgiving.  But it should be.  We forget how lucky we are living here in the USA.  

Our country, our leaders, our people....we aren't perfect.   Those who came before us weren't perfect either.  But their efforts built our country...and those who followed kept it strong and safe.  People daily work to keep it strong and safe.
We have a lot to be thankful for.

The right to speak your mind, even if you are an idiot.
The right to pick your own career.
The right to religion.
The right to education.
The right to own property.
The right to choose your own spouse....
and much more.
Simple things really.  But things so many others do not have.....

We need to remember all this when we Pledge our Allegiance to the Flag...it is really to our country, the flag is just a symbol.
I say it at work.  I put my hand over my heart and mean every word.  I give laser beam eyes to kids who aren't being respectful during the pledge. Then they get a lecture. They laugh and say their parent's don't care about the pledge.  They say I can't make them say the pledge.  Which is true.....and that is something they should be thankful for...because in some other country you might not be able to NOT pledge allegiance to something....sort of short sighted, isn't it?

So today, I am thankful and you should be too....you are probably out cooking hot dogs and playing at the beach.  At the least, you are hanging with friends or loved ones.  Even if you have to work today (retail, I know...been there, done that) then chances are, your shift is shorter and management has a little something in the back because they know it sucks to work when everyone else is out having fun.

Image result for pledge allegiance words

So remember what today really is all about.  And be thankful for it.

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Texas trip

After Christmas, we took a quick trip to see Dean's family.  He hadn't seen his folks in a couple years and wanted to go for a visit.  There is no way you are going to forget you are in Texas with these everywhere...




When we drove into their neighborhood, we saw all the deer that are so common there.  They walk the yards like dogs would.  Totally unafraid.  If they only knew what Dean was thinking (DINNER) they would have worried a little!



This one walked was curious and walked within 3 feet of the car.  Pretty.



There were lots of smiles...




While there, we took the boys to the playground.  They played tag.... so the biggest boy climbed a tree.  He was safely out of reach here.  NO FAIR!




during a tense movie, someone snuggled up with his niece!



we went to a trail of lights in Wimberly and it was awesome.  I loved this little teacup birdfeeder...



it was a long walk, with a lot to see.  This herb garden hedged in with stone made me want one...Dean?




 by the time we were done, it was dark and COLD!  We finished the walk at the Veteran's Memorial.  I couldn't help but think of daddy and get choked up.



When it got too cold, we enjoyed hot cocoa and then roasted marshmallows over a fire....a lot of fun, especially for the little ones.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Christmas lights

I love to look at Christmas lights.  We drove an hour to go to a drive through display in Metarie at a park.  After driving and hour and then waiting an hour, they CUT the lights off before we made it through!   We were driving up to where the display started and BAM...lights off...30 minutes early.  

I couldn't believe it but luckily, we had a new Ed Sheeran cd and the soundtrack from Guardians of the Galaxy so we were good......

We drove around looking at houses instead.  It was late so most houses had their lights turned off.  A few on St. Charles were still lit up...






As was this nativity at Loyola...



These were just down the street from us...




back home...








I need more deer....just a couple....

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I am thankful for humor....I love to laugh....and THIS really got me laughing.

Seriously, what were they THINKING?

Monday, November 3, 2014

Pumpkin carving contest!

Before I get to the carving, check out this cute glass I painted.   So easy....and Halloweeny. I painted a few for some co workers....


I needed a pretty wine glass for myself for Halloween wanted something a bit Gothic looking.  Lucky me found this one on Ebay.

Dean dubbed it "Goblet of Fire."   I love it.  


Armed with my new glass full of wine and my warty pumpkin, I was ready to WIN this year's Pumpkin carving contest!!!!

These two peeps didn't stand a chance!


Or did they?

Dean and I had gone to a local pumpkin patch and I carefully selected a few warty ones thinking they'd be amazing....WRONG.   
It was like trying to carve TITANIUM!  Even Dean was ready to just pitch it but I didn't want to wait so instead of freaking out, I quickly drank my wine, grabbed the drill and cored lots of holes in it instead.  (It just now occurred to me that swilling a large glass of wine before using power tools was probably NOT the best idea! )

The shell was so hard, it kept pulling the drill bits OUT of the drill!  In the end, I got it done but needed a serious shower.  The coring bits had thrown pumpkin flesh everywhere.  It was literally all over me. 

Here it is.  (I am happy to say that one guy walked up with his kids and said, Oh man, I love that, a Disco Ball!)   Made me laugh because that is what Dean called it.



Dean's...the pupils are actually pumpkin stems shoved in his head.



And Kaela's...what a show off.....(hee hee)


So, time for the voting to commence.  Which pumpkin do YOU vote for?  The winner gets bragging rights and dinner out.
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