• Blog - Crafts - Creativity

    T Tuesday: two month update

    My goal is to do a post for T stands for Tuesday monthly… I’m moving in the right direction at least.

    I’m not going chronological this time. I’m starting with a project that I’m thrilled to have finished…and in record time as far as I’m concerned.

    I made a flannel rag quilt. It’s not the first one I’ve made but I think the quickest.

    It wasn’t without some choice words at a couple of times…like when I accidently cut well over half of the flannel squares 1/2 inch larger in two directions than I should have. Better than too small though!!

    I even remembered to add a quilt label to this one. It’s something that I want to do with all my quilts. I hate doing hand embroidery, I don’t have a fancy machine that can do it either so I decided to draw 2026 on a piece of flannel and roughly stitch the year with various stitches and colors. Not ideal but it works.

    I usually leave the Marvin photo for the end of my post but he fits here this time around. He thinks that anytime I lay out quilt blocks to audition a layout that its exclusively for him. Those are 9 inch squares. 🙂

    This is another quilt I’m working on. I’ve actually gotten the entire top joined together now. I’m waiting for the motivation to put the entire quilt sandwich together and start the quilting process. That part is always daunting to me. I actually have another quilt in at the same stage laying on the spare room bed awaiting inspiration.

    All the quilting was somewhat inspired by a cold snap we endured.

    It was so cold that the wildlife were trying to take shelter next to the house.  We had a couple of whitetail deer right off the deck. The doe was shivering…it made me sad to see. The buck stood at the sliding glass door looking longingly at the indoors. He scared Mini-me who was recovering from her knee surgery on the couch. Her surgery went well and was able to return to her place and work right on schedule.

    The cold days made for beautiful sunrises.

    As usual I worked at our districts archery tournament this year. You may notice my obligatory beverage on the table per T stands for Tuesday rules. 🙂

     Shifting back to crafting…I used some itty bitty scraps to embellish a few cards and make some clusters. I love making something out of virtually nothing.

    My last thought for the day is brought to you by some bunnies.

    Today (Monday) was an unexpected day off. We had a blizzard over the weekend but only half the snow that was expected. I was super surprised when I got the text that school was closed. The weather played a part but it was mostly a district-wide phone outage. I’m not complaining, it was a nice bonus day!

    What are you doing today?
  • Crafts

    T Tuesday: after Christmas inspiration edition

    Whoa…yes, it’s me, two weeks in a row! I had a long weekend with both the MLK holiday and a grading day for school today so I had some extra zip in my step and got another post written. Unfortunately, I still had to leave the house bright and early for an appointment.

    This is what my weather app said when I got up this morning…

    And my van said even colder!! I made it to the appointment and got myself back home where I can putter around the house for the rest of the day working on the crafty bits that I’ve been super inspired to create lately.

    Leading up to the holidays I just wasn’t in the Christmas spirit. This year was the first that we’ve been full-time empty nesters and the appeal of decorating, baking and the like, just wasn’t there for me.

    I’m not exactly sure what it was that turned the table for me but now I’m Christmas crafting like crazy.

    Maybe it was the late blooming of this Amaryllis. Isn’t it gorgeous!?!

    As promised in my last post…here are some of the completed Scandinavian stars. I made a few more after taking the photo but you get the idea.

    I made these scrappy little stars with the offcuts. I’m wishing that I had turned them into a garland instead of individual ornaments.  I might do it anyway…just have to heat up the hot glue sticking the top together with the hanger.

    This load of buttons is the start of yet another Christmas craft. I have no idea if it’s going to turn out like it is in my head so I’m holding off sharing more for now. I’ll likely share the whole process after completion…even if it is a fail.

    Last evening a had some tea. I just love this mug. It’s a good reminder.

    I’ll leave you with an image of my sweet boy, Marvin. This is his morning spot…chair tucked under, tablecloth draped over…secret spot.

    I’m heading up to the craft/sewing room next to play.

    What are you doing today?

  • Blog - Crafts - Creativity

    Gnome ornaments

    I always like to have a little something to give to friends… usually it’s handmade…what else would you expect from me.

    Mini-me brought home a large spool of kitchen twine that she had used in an art installation last year. I wasn’t sure how we were ever going to get through all the yardage until I started making these cute gnome ornaments.

    I was inspired by a Pinterest video. https://pin.it/4wRPmea

    I wrapped the kitchen string around my hand until it felt thick enough. I tied the middle then slipped off my hand and cut the opposite side from the tie. I then tied a loop of bakers twine to serve as the hanger before beginning work on the hat.

     I made a circle template with a bowl then cut it in half. I used scraps of flannel from my stash for the hats. After rolling my half circle of flannel into a cone shape.  I used a hot glue gun to adhere first the hat together then stick the hat to the gnome body being careful to thread the hanger loop through the top of the hat. I then added a coordinating button or two to the hat and a wooden bead tucked up under the rim of the hat for the perfect gnome nose.

    Thankfully I also have a stash of wooden beads to make the noses.

    They turned out so cute and I used up the whole spool! Renew, reuse, recycle. ♻️