The mask I made this week is a bit faded/lower opacity so the best use would be a darker photo on a lighter background (or vice versa, I suppose). Personal use only – Enjoy!
Look Who’s Come To Stay…
May 20, 2013 2 Comments
I received an unexpected package in the mail the other day… Can you see him?
Yup, a dinosaur planter! Isn’t he cute! He’s already made himself at home, partying it up by the pool…
Checking out Mini Blythe…
Success! Now, they are inseparable…
He’s so at home comfy, he’s already borrowing my jewelry:
Thank you Chris! ( A Little Creation), my past and ongoing swap buddy 🙂
Blythe Physical Challenge #80 Flower Power
May 16, 2013 1 Comment
I knew my vintage “flower Power” pins would come in handy someday. This weeks Blythe Physical Challenge was to photograph Blythe in public with flowers… A stroll down the neighborhood with Freddie, long hair flowing, decked out in “flower power” pins:
Photo Mask #12 Freebie
May 14, 2013 4 Comments
This week, I made a square shaped Spring style mask. Personal use only – Enjoy!
Best Weekend Ever!
May 12, 2013 1 Comment
What a great weekend this has been! Older son flew home, and younger son drove up from University. Once again, we were a family of five under one roof. It’s as if they never left. DD went right into her usual banter with her older brothers. And it’s that time again – NHL Playoff Stache…
Just wanted to share DD’s latest passion – cycling! It started off as getting a bike to get around campus in the fall, and now she is “talking” about doing triathlons. Don’t you just love the pink tires 🙂
And to all the Mothers out there…
Photo Mask #11 Freebie
May 7, 2013 7 Comments
Mother’s Day is this Sunday the 12th. So, in honor of this very special day, I created this photo mask. I also made one without the word “Mother” on it. Personal use only – Enjoy!
May 2013 Garden
May 6, 2013 Leave a Comment
Yayyy!!! I made it. It seems every year, I get later and later in putting in my vegetable garden. What’s silly is that I have my gardener help clean out the raised beds in fall in preparation for cold weather planting. But then I don’t do it, and neglect the garden instead. Then I have to have him help clean out the weeds before I plant in spring all over again. I normally have everything in sometime in April, but this season, it went into May… I planted the usual; tomatoes, zucchinis, beans, melons, and artichokes. Here are some photos of my vegetable garden. The first one is looking toward the back of my house, second one is to the side, and the third, looking out at the back grove. I am a “plant them and leave them kind” of gardener, so only the hardiest survive:
My Concord grape vines are doing great. The Kyoho grape vines are so so. The small bed was my herb garden, until the mint and some other herb jumped the planter and took over everywhere. And that’s my garden gnome, his name is Norm (really original name, I know ;)). Bougainvillea covered my trellis bench in the center, but this last frost killed one, and the gardener trimmed the other one down to the ground. I need to think of another vine to plant that can withstand the colder temperatures in the winter. The bright flowers on the bushy tree in the center photo are pomegranates. I have them all over the back , as they seem to resist the gopher attacks better than some other plants. Besides, I just love pomegranates!
Handmade Gifts
May 4, 2013 1 Comment
What could these be? can you guess?…
They’re pin keeps! I finally decided to make some things out of all the vintage/estate finds that I have been happily collecting. I’ve seen a lot of people make all kinds of pin keeps, and knew I could make them as well. They are fun and quick to make, and the results are just too adorable! Who wouldn’t want one of these cuties sitting by their side when crafting?
I hope the recipients like them… Now, off to go and make one for DD and one for myself.
My Spring Doll!
May 2, 2013 3 Comments
I mentioned in an earlier post that I joined Wendy of Ravenwood Whimzies Spring Doll Challenge… Well, I actually finished it! In good time no less.
I took Wendy’s doll pattern and reduced it to half the original size – I like smaller dolls. She stands approximately 10″ tall. Since I still had the supplies for fairies out on my table, I decided to make my Spring Doll into a fairy, in pink. She wears a pink and yellow petal skirt with a yellow felt tunic, pink shoes, and petaled acorn cap. Her hair is made of wool roving. I inserted pipe cleaners in her arms and legs, which made stuffing easier since she is so small, and it had the added benefit of making her pose-able. The only deviation from Wendys pattern is on her feet. Since I reduced the size, I was unable to turn the foot part of the pattern after sewing. As for her facial features, I went with an Edith Flack Ackley style. She looks a bit serious, but she’s still cute ;). And here she is:
This doll was so much fun to make. Thank you Wendy for the challenge! …Doll #2 done!
Photo Mask #10 Freebie
April 30, 2013 2 Comments
Here is the freebie mask for this week. I was in the mood to doodle and zentangle, so I whipped out my notebook, and drew a zentangled frame. Personal Use only – Enjoy!
Nest Swap!
April 29, 2013 1 Comment
I just seem to be joining one swap/challenge after another these days. Anyway, I had joined a “Nest Swap” hosted by Viv of Viv Out On A Limb. I was partnered with a most unique and sweet person; Kai Naconi of Celebrating Christmas Year Round. We were to make a nest that we liked so much that we didn’t want to give away… Kai made me this very special nest in colors I like – pink and more pink!
Kai is half Comanche, and lives a Comanche life. This intrigued me, so I did some research about the Comanche people. I stumbled on this book, Empire Of The Summer Moon. This is how my mind works: Hmmm… what a nice looking man… click… Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History…click…Son of an Indian Chief and a White Settler abducted as a child… Greatest Comanche Chief… sounds interesting… Click… download to my Kindle. Whew, I generally do not read non-fiction, but this book is so far very interesting. If you are a history buff, or just want to know more about the early days of our Country in regards to the American Indian people, this is a good read.
Ok, back to the swap. Thank you Kai for a very special nest! Your care and thoughts in creating it are much appreciated. And thank you Viv for organizing this swap, and partnering me with your very special friend. Here is what I made for Kai. Earlier this year, I challenged myself with making one doll a month. Well, I am going to count this Fairy ( Felt Wee Folk by Sally Mavor) as doll number 1. I just need to make three more to catch up 🙂
Vintage Supply Swap!
April 26, 2013 2 Comments
I recently participated in a vintage supply swap hosted by Elizabeth of Creative Breathing. Elizabeth partnered me with Nancy of My Crafty Little Page. It’s always fun meeting someone new, and Nancy was no exception. Reading Nancy’s blog made me laugh at times – she has a fun way of writing. Anyway, I found that we had things in common; Nancy lives in Texas, and we lived in Texas, we both love vintage, pink, and everything Elizabeth creates.
When my package arrived, I was so excited! I had to first take in all the prettily wrapped packages, and admire before I dared open them. One of them even came wrapped in a pretty pink embroidered baby blanket:
The first box I opened had all these wonderful scrapbook and paper supplies – it even has the word “Wonderful” in it:
A roll of vintage wall paper. And look at this adorable little “Japan” girl! Nancy sent her to me because she knows I like Blythe dolls, and this little girl reminded her of Blythe – how thoughtful:
Some vintage ephemera, and a Wedding booklet with programs that Nancy made for her nieces wedding – so creative!
More lace, and even word cards – love the words :). Another package contained this cute pipe cleaner animals kit. I came across an old pipe cleaner character leaflet at a thrift store recently, and as usual, started to amass supplies (pipe cleaners & googly eyes) to “create”, so this kit came at a perfect time:
This pretty tin contained a doily, rosettes, cute little teddy, crinkle ribbon, more lace, vintage birds, vintage paper rolls, labels, vintage snowmen picks, and a pretty button bouquet:
And here is the cigar box that Nancy decorated and filled to the top with more goodies. I’m just starting to work with paper crafting, so this wonderfully decorated box was much appreciated. Nancy is so talented with paper craft/altered art. The box contained even more lace and ribbons, tags, beads, and vintage clothes pins. Also included were vintage Naval aircraft ephemera – I appreciated it since I used to work on military aircraft designs:
Vintage scrabble tiles – yay! Look at the pretty glittery vintage beads! Nancy knew that I have been on the lookout for a doll house. Well, she included these precious tea cups and saucers – I just love them!
Well, I think I am ready to tackle any project. Thank you sooo much Nancy for being my swap partner! It’s been great fun getting to know you. And thank you again to Elizabeth for coordinating this swap.
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