Snowflake Wreath

I saw a wreath on pinterest, no link since it has one of those cautions about the link...

 

Anyway, I just needed to see the photo because it's very easy.  I looked around the house for a wreath form or large ring (which I didn't find until after I cut up this box... it figures, right?) So I cut a large circle from a corrugated  box with a utility knife, then cut out a smaller circle to make the wreath form.  I spray painted it white so the color of the box would not show through.


 

I cut the tulle (the kind that comes on a roll.) about 14 inches long, made myself a piece of cardboard 7 inches long so I could wrap and cut several pieces at a time.  They are attached to the wreath with a lark's head knot.


 

My wreath is 18" across..I used 2 rolls of the tulle.
I had some of the snowflakes and purchased the rest at the dollar store.

 

I love the snowy winter look.  I think this one will go to the auction.  It looks so much prettier in person than it is photographing.

What a night!  I was up till 2am watching the returns and speeches.  The adrenaline was flowing and I thought I would never get to sleep.  I am so glad that this campaign is over.  I pray that we can find a place where we can work together.

I'm gonna need a nap this afternoon! ;-) Have a great day my friends.

My Baby Boy!

 

Happy Birthday to our dear son Mike.  Mikey, Michael, Mike...whatever you call him, he's a beautiful man but will always be my baby boy.  Special since day one, he was born 2 weeks after I lost my Mom.  He's always managed to make me smile and laugh out loud everyday since.  All of our kids have a great sense of humor, but Mike and I share the strangest one.  We have been known to spontaneously chant USA, USA for no apparent reason.;-)


 

Mike is passionate about his music and his band.  A great bassist, that's from people in the know.
I've been bugging him lately to learn a rock ballad...chicks love a ballad and Mike has a great voice.  In fact he owes me a Christmas Carol on guitar... 
 

Happy Birthday Mikey, a great and loving son, a loyal brother to both his siblings, the sweetest cousin to the little bird and baby bug, the best Uncle to sweet p., friend to many, AV genius and a rock legend in the making.  Dad and I are so proud of you and love you so!  May all your dreams come true!

Thanks for indulging me dear friends.  Enjoy this beautiful day.

She Rummages, She Scores!

 

A amazing rare occurrence in November, the rummage sale, yet we found one very close to home.  It was  advertised as a Christmas Rummage Sale so as part of our chores, we added it to our to do list!  Boy am I glad we did.  I found this unusual Christmas table cloth.

 

 I bought it! It had this tag, so like any self respecting junker, I looked it up on Google.  Here's some of what I found...


 

Did you see the final bid?  $131.49!  Of course, mine is red, but in excellent shape.  I also found someone on ebay who made this very same tablecloth into pillows.  The asking price for a pillow 12' by 16" was $40.

I think my tablecloth is destined to be pillow covers too.  Unless someone wants to drop $131.49 on me...I'll pay the shipping!!!;-)

 These photos loaded in the wrong order, but remember, Pendleton!

I found this nut bowl.  We had one just like this when I was growing up.  We always had nuts in the shell for Thanksgiving.  (and tangerines!)  I thought it would be a pretty base, turned upside down, for something decorative.

I got this awesome amber bottle from Joy's Shop the Shed sale in the spring. Doesn't that little platform look great?

 

Now to the Pendleton...  I found this robe among the Christmas sweaters.  I grabbed it, and was so excited.  Then I googled it when I got home...


 

Yikes, brand new $228.00!  Mine is old and has a few worn spots.  Last year Joy, the same talented girl that sold me the amber bottle...used plaid in her Christmas decorating.  It looked so warm and vintage, I've been looking for some plaid ever since. 

I found a old school Winnie the pooh blanket and crib sheet for sweet p. Still to be washed.

So now, before I tell you what I spent, I have to tell you that I also found a like new winter coat, for me  A London Fog brand hooded jacket.  Fully lined in quilted nylon, with all the bells and whistles that a really well made coat has.  I saw it as we were walking out.  I tried it on and it fit really well.  I checked it out   and it was in perfect shape and thought it just needed a wash.  So I bought it, brought it home...Treated the cuffs and zipper area with Citrasolve, yes the very same stuff you can use to transfer images with.  It is an excellent product that removes any tough stain, or set in soil.(I got mine on Amazon)  I washed and dried the coat and it looks brand new!  You'll have to catch me around town to see it.  I was really excited and had a small fashion show on face time with Kris and Penny.  I modeled my like new coat to the tune, The Girl from Ipanema...  Too Much fun!  ;-)

Total price for everything I bought...$14.00!!!!! YES!
A busy week ahead...Election Day, don't forget to vote, a birthday, some crafting, some cooking and baking...Raking, and more raking...  Bring it all on, I love this time of year.  Have a beautiful day my friends.

A Full House

 

Thank goodness everyone didn't show up to last night's Guild meeting at my house...We filled it up with 14 members, everyone was comfortable and we got a lot of work accomplished.  I didn't take a photo, but just imagine a room full of the most generous, kind and wonderful women a person could know...
That's my guild sisters!
These are a few photos of some WIP's...  I loved this fleece pattern, looks like toile.  I was trying to match the navy blue knit cuffs I found a while back.  Remember when you could go into any fabric store and purchase those cuffs or yardage you purchased by the inch?  I snapped up the two packages I found at a Ben Franklin in Wisconsin. 

 

Never too old for a cozy throw...someone will get this for his birthday next week after I crochet a manly edge on it. ;-) 

 

Home made mittens I need to decorate, they will have some lace and a floral arrangement in them and will be for hanging on the wall...I'm going vintage on these babies!


 

Speaking of vintage... While cleaning I found this bowl...A $500.00 ash tray, what my Dad used to call all the things I made in High School art classes.  He was actually a big fan of my arts and crafts, but my parents wanted me to go to a public high school.  With 5 kids and my brothers already Catholic High School graduates, they thought I would be fine in a city public high school, and they would save some $$.  Little did they know that all my friends were testing at Alvernia...the local all girl Catholic High School, tuition, $500 (or something like that) a year!  (1970's pricing!) 

At Alvernia, I found the amazing School Sisters of St. Francis,  A progressive order, amazing women!  Sister Anne taught art.  I took drawing, ceramics, enameling and metals, calligraphy and blossomed under her guidance.  That's where I tinkered this aluminum bowl over 40 years ago.  It's not much to look at, but oh the memories it invokes! 

Have a great weekend my friends, I've got some crocheting to do!

November First!

 

As the sun set on Halloween, the trees lit up and the sky was watercolor blue.  I am amazed at how quickly the  colors change in autumn.  I could not get out of the house fast enough to get the peak of these colors.
The shadows make the colors more intense.

 

Waiting for the little ghosts and goblins to ring my door bell, I made this little garland.
I saw it on Pinterest from a site called Life is a Party. (Sorry, I can't find the link)
She sewed her leaves together.


 

I xyroned one leaf and covered it with another to make mine.  Our trick or treat time is short in our village, so my garland isn't very long. I used the die cutter to make uniform leaves.

 

I was looking through the October issue of Martha Stewart Living and saw this photo.  It's been a very long time since I saw such an amazing idea in a magazine. A entire wall covered in vintage photographs!!!! Jeffrey Moss has got it going on!
I so want to do this somewhere in my house. 

 

I got the issue at my library and wish I had a copy of my own.  I wonder how he started...one photo, ten photos?  If you get the chance, check out the October issue...it knocked my socks off!!!

Entertaining two dozen beautiful women tonight.  Wish me luck!  Have a great day my friends!