• Art - Blog - Crafts

    Tree collection additions

    Over the past few years I’ve started collecting Christmas trees. Mostly because I keep making a new kind each year but I’m not opposed to buying one at a thrift store or garage sale if it really speaks to me.

    This year I was inspired by Mini-me. She had to film a tutorial for her technology class. Her group of three girls each picked a different Christmas craft and bought enough material for the three of them to each create their own.  She was inspired by this tree.

    inspiration tree | Halle's Hobbies

    Her version used smaller pieces of cardstock. It got very tedious for her towards the end of both punching all the scallops and hot gluing them to the paper cone. It was her punching all those pieces that had Mr. G prompting me to try my Silhouette machine again.

    Speaking of paper cones…I made the cones from poster board after first seeing the price of a craft store foam version and then realizing that the foam would melt with hot glue. Glad I thought that one through before starting!!

    lace wrapped tree materials | Halle's Hobbies

    This tree came together really quickly.

    vintage lace trim for lace wrapped tree | Halle's Hobbies

    This vintage trim was in the bottom of my sewing box likely bought for some project my mom had intended to make in the 1970’s. At least it’s getting used now! lace wrapped Christmas tree| Halle's Hobbies

    Isn’t it sweet. I had the tiny glass ornaments in my stash as well. All it needed was a topper. I auditioned several ideas but finally decided a star was in order.handmade star for lace wrapped tree| Halle's Hobbies

    I drew a star on a piece of paper so I’d have a guide to do my bending. I used a twisted piece of 22 gauge wire. I had to “tie” the star at the crossover points “barbwire style” for stability.

    The second tree (well technically it was the first one) was yarn wrapped.

    yarn wrapped tree| Halle's Hobbies

    I used a leftover partial skein of acrylic yarn for this one. Again I had some tiny trims in my stash to give the tree a finished look.

    Nothing I love more than to use stash items! No cost…no trip to the store…AWESOME!

    Tree collection | Halle's Hobbies

    My humble little collection in our game area of the family room. You may be able to see both my Suess tree and cork tree. Additionally you also may be able to see the recycled Christmas card balls I made last year and the 12 days of Christmas swap book from several years ago adorning the table.

  • Art - Blog

    Feeling inspired

    Ever have a day and you wake up feeling inspired? That was how I felt this morning. I popped out of bed, started coffee, had a little quiet time and yoga. I headed off to the basement with my mind set to create.

    time slips away

    I wasn’t planning on using this journal but since it was prepped and ready to go with the background that was speaking to me at the moment…I went for it.

    prepped journal

    As I started painting in green…my muse said…nope. Turquoise is the color of the day. I covered up the green and was pleased with the subtle shading the layers had created.

    The page came together so quickly…I was amazed.

    teadyed lace

    The last little accent I added was a bit of tea dyed lace. I carefully cut around the medallion. It was perfect for the spot.

    I don’t often get really excited about my pages but this one has me smiling!

  • Blog

    T Tuesday: Something’s brewing edition

    T stands for Tuesday rolls around more quickly each week it seems. Think it’s possible that our hostess Elizabeth is speeding up time? Yeah…probably not happening.

    This week my Tea is not for drinking… I’m just dye-ing to show you what I’m doing. *teeheehee*

    Tea dye

    My supplies are simple…old package of 6 tea bags that I’d never drink. Scraps of linens, lace and ribbon. Glass bowl. Boiling water. And time.

    toil and trouble

    Bubble, bubble toil and trouble. And now we wait…

    I’m heading for a brisk morning walk with a friend.

    What are you doing today?