Half way into October

I've been gone for a little over a month. I needed to get some things sorted out in my life. I know we all have times that seem almost overwhelming and that was my life for awhile. I have not done alot of crafting this past month. I've been looking alot just not doing.
I did the fall festival and it went really well. I sold almost all my tutus and all of the marshmallow guns. Plus I am still working on orders from the show. I was a little disappointed in not selling any of the bibs and bears or bonnets. But I guess people were just not in the market for these at this time. I had made plenty of aprons but so did alot of other booths. Last year not one booth had an apron to be found. There was plenty of primitive art but no one was buying them. I do think 65.00 for a small primitive doll is a little much. I know alot of work goes into them but in this economy people are not willing to spend like that. At least not in this area.
I've also taken some purse orders and welding cap orders. Finished 2 of the orders this week.
I've been wanting to find a new craft and will be posting when I find and finish one.

It's half way into October and so it's time to really start working on holiday crafts, decorations and Christmas gifts. One year I made all the kids stuffed dogs, one year I made everyone a quilt, one year I made everyone an embroidered scarf, last year it was everyone jewelry sets.
I can't figure out what I want to make this year but I know I need to figure it out in a hurry.
Until next time.... Take care and craft-craft-craft.

Let's have a Labor Day Party

Here it is the last day of August. Where did the summer go? One last time to have a party before we get back into the work and school routines. I was looking for some cute ideas to use as party favors and found these on Ebay. These would be easy to do... purchase a dozen or so of these plastic parfait tumblers and 2 or so dozen washcloths, some contrasting or matching ribbon and a few fake pieces of fruit. Although you could use Femo clay and make your own fruit. Twist the washcloths together. Wrap with the ribbon and place them into the tumblers. Add a plastic spoon or those twisty straws. You now have some adorable party favors for that end of summer Labor Day Party or Picnic. These would also be quite appropriate for birthday parties. Forgo the napkins and let them use these.
As I always say... you have to love the ingenuity of people. I have no imagination to come up with these ideas but I can usually figure out how they did it and make my own. Can you believe we only have less than 4 months until Christmas? That is amazing! I'm not sure exactly what I'll do for Christmas this year. Going to have to search the web for some frugal Christmas ideas. I heard that the U.S. is running out of sugar. Can't make holiday cookies and sweets without sugar. I'm going to have to stockpile sugar for the holidays I guess. It has already began to get more expensive.

Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

For those of you who like recipes I found a great one for PeanutButter Cookies
3 ingredients is all it takes.

1 cup of peanut butter (crunchy or smooth)
1 egg (beaten)
1 cup of sugar ( I prefer Dominos)

Mix the 3 ingredients together. Form dough into teaspoon size balls.
Place on a greased cookie sheet. Press down with a fork.
Bake about 10 minutes or so, until light or golden brown (your preference)
in 350* degree oven.
Allow to cool slightly then remove from sheet pan.

I know it sounds weird but it works and tastes great.

Got a Bee in My Bonnet

You could say I have a Bee in my bonnet cause I have been as busy as a bee making do-rags and bonnets this week. Just some more things for the craft shows coming up. I'm not sure about bonnets around the fall time of year but do-rags sell well here in West Virginia. I am the only one here that sells a larger size do-rag. Most of the do-rags you buy don't really fit a larger head or head with hair. My sister not too long ago asked me to make her several for someone she knows that has a ton of hair and the regular sizes just wouldn't fit him. So I drew up a larger one and they sell well. If you would like the pattern you can go to my tutorial site and download your own to make. It's over on the right side of screen here.

And just to let those of you who have been following this for awhile. My niece's baby shower was the other day. It was a lovely shower. My sister did all the decorations. Most from balloons. She did one of those balloon arches over the gift table. She also did a balloon topiary tree center piece for each table. That was really cool looking. She took a piece of 6" x 6" wood, drilled a small hole in the center then put a length of dowel rod in the center. She then attached balloons in several section along with ribbon and added a balloon animal that she did herself. I was really impressed with the balloon animals (Tigger, Pooh, weenie dogs, elephants and a few more). She got the directions for them on youtube.
It's amazing what one can find on youtube. Every time I look for an idea, I go there and find something worth the trip.

Too Much to do and so little time....

There is too much to do and so little time to get it done. If my day was only a few hours longer or I required a little less sleep.

I am almost ready for the fall show.

Here I have made a few little cold weather caps and matching booties.

The cap is so easy to make. Simply start with a double layer of fleece measuring 7 inches across and 11 high now round off the top of it to make a cap. Sew all along the sides leaving the bottom open. Turn right side out and fold up to form the brim. Tack in place... you're done!

Fleece is very stretchy so the tiny little cap will fit a newborn up to about a 1/2 year. Fleece comes in so many gorgeous patterns and colors it can become addicting.

Trying My Hand at a Diaper Car

I saw something like this similar online several weeks ago and was telling my Mom just how cute I thought it was. Mom needed a baby shower gift so asked me to make one for her to give. After studying the picture for a bit I came up with this little cutie. Actually it's not so little. It contains 56 diapers, 2 bottles, a pair of baby footies, 2 recieving blankets, a fleece blanket, a tub of wipes, a nipple and cap holder for the dishwasher and a bib I made.
It did take some time and a few trys but here it is. I also couldn't figure a way to keep the tires on without tying them on.
I don't know what possesses me at times. I always feel like I need to be creating something. Feeds a need I have wanting to be useful, I guess.

Starting to Sell

I took a tutu to work to show it off. And made 3 sales. WooHoo! So I decided to try selling them on Crobbies. That's www.crobbies .com. They are set up just like etsy and ebay. You post info and pictures of items you have made and try to sell them. Though unlike ebay you have to have made the item to sell on Crobbies. There are hundreds of tutus on ebay and several dozen on etsy. But I could find none on crobbies. Wish me luck in my newest endeavor. I 'll be back in a day or two with a new item I've made.

Tutu Cute

This is tutu cute. I finally got my youngest granddaughter over to the house and we had picture day. One is a picture of the tutu I showed here earlier and the other is a shorter tutu. I'm amazed when you put something as cute and girly as a tutu on even someone so young, their whole perspection changes. Fun and free. Flowing layers of soft tulle transforms a young girl into a princess or ballerina. She ran and played and had a wonderful time. I am so glad we did it. Although I have to admit, I wanted perfect pictures and she wasn't having any of it. I have made 7 of these so far. Some longer than others but the beauty is they will all fit a waist 18" to 26". I am working on the head pieces now. Flowers, ribbon and tulle to match each one. I must admit.... I'm addicted!

It's Marzipan, Baby

Some one sent me an email recently of pictures of things made from marzipan. This is by far the most detailed and adorable thing I have ever seen. The lady (whom ever she may be) formed this precious little baby from just a wad of sugar, shortening and water. Hand painted it with maybe food color or acrylics, I'm not really sure.
I have in the past seen fruits and flowers made from marzipan. They decorate the tops of candies and cakes around the holidays. And yes it is very edible but come on... who could even think of eating this little treasure. It belongs under glass to just adore.
If you are interested in learning marzipan simple do a quick (LOL) search in your web browser.
Type in the words how to make marzipan. You will be shocked at what is available.

Tutu Much

If you have been reading my blog, you know that I am trying to get ready for a craftshow. I am doing lots of baby and children items for this one. I have been searching the internet for easy cute ideas and came across a no-sew tutu tutorial. This is my first attempt. Lilac tulle intermixed with white tulle. I purchased 4 rolls of white tulle at the Dollar Tree and 2 rolls of lilac tulle JoAnn Fabrics for 2.50 each. I like the rolls of tulle. They come in 6 inch rolls and have about 25 yards of tulle.
I simply cut lengths of 24 inches. Butterfly wrapped each piece around the length of elastic. I used 1 roll of lilac and 1 1/2 rolls of white. The white tulle rolls from Dollar Tree only had 8 yards each. I already had the 1/2 inch elastic and a roll of sheer 1/4 inch ribbon but if you had to buy the ribbon it would cost about .50 cents.
I guess it cost me about $5.00 to make the tutu adding the cost of everything I had and bought. You can get a good tutorial with pictures at GirlyThingBows.com
Cute, cute, cute! I then did a flower headband. A crocheted headband in purple with a bit of tulle glued to it and a pretty purple flower (with the stem removed) glued to that.
Simple and adorable!
There are people who are making a decent living making tuts and headwear. Just look on ebay and etsy and several groups that have forums for people who make these.
So after I got this done I went to Wal-mart and bought several yards of tulle by the yard. I cut the tulle up into strips and began making another one. I did find out that I should have bought at least another 2 yards but I pick it up later next week.
This particular tutu will fit a child age 4 - 6 years. I think I will charge about $20.00 for the set.
Thats alot cheaper than ebay, etsy or the other websites I have been looking at.

Maybe for a bridal shower?

Ok, I was fooling around and made a washcloth Sundae and a washcloth LogRoll. These would be really cute at a bridal shower. Easy peasy to do. Go to the Dollar Tree and pick up a couple packages of the champagne glasses (6 for 1.00) and a couple packages of washcloths.
To make the sundae... make a ball from the washcloth and stuff it inside the glass, add a plastic spoon and a little red pompom. Done! The LogRoll is a brown and a white washcloth rolled up to make a cloth logroll (you know like the chocolate cake rolls in the store). Tie a pretty ribbon around it and there you go. Although I did add a green pompom simply because I like the things.
I am working on washcloth parfaits and washcloth pie slices. I am also trying my hand at diaper cupcakes in a 6 pack package. I'll post them if I get them done to my satisfaction.

Baby Booties Galore

I have gone Bootie Crazy. These things are addicting. I don't even have a baby to give these to. But I'll just save them until I need them for a baby shower or two. With just a bit of felt and some hand stitching you can create an adorable fashion accessory for the little one in your life. I have had an awful last couple of weeks. With a funeral, a reunion, work and dealing with every day pressures, I'm surprised I have gotten any sewing done. OldSchoolAcres.com has tons of patterns for baby shoes so if you want a pair go check this site out. Of course there are tons of patterns out there if you google them up.
The pair of ballet shoes with matching headband (below) is my own adapted from several patterns I found online. I made them with a animal print cotton, added ribbons for tying. The headband is several layers of ribbon attached to a inexpensive headband I bought at Family Dollar 6 for 3.00. There are several really good sites to teach one how to make a bow or two. Theribbonretreat.com is one of my favorite sites for this.
This little pair of felt booties I embroidered using my regular machine.

This little pair of ballet booties I hand embroidered and used those inexpensive snaps that can be bought on cardboard sheets for under 2.00

This little pair of booties I did the same as the others only this time I sewed a cute little plastic butterfly to each strap.