Happy Thanksgiving and Twilight

With all the hectic activities this week... I did want to get on here today and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. I haven't done alot of crafting lately. Can't seem to get in the mood. I have so much crafting to do before Christmas but I don't want to do it. Have you had days, weeks or months like that?
I did go Christmas shopping today. Managed to get something or two for all the grandchildren, my daughter and my Mom and Dad.
I did buy everything for the Thanksgiving feast. Although I won't be cooking at home this year. Since my son is going to his in laws for Thanksgiving, doing some hunting too. We will be going to my daughters for Thanksgiving. Hopefully we will get a chance to go to Mom's too.
It's a shame to cook for days and days and eat it all in an hour or two. The cost is aweful too.
My daughter and I split the items for the meal so it didn't cost an arm and leg. But it is still too expensive.
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Did anyone get a chance to go see Twilight's New Moon this weekend?
My granddaughter is a huge fan (Twihards) is the new term I believe. One step higher than a twilighter. Anyways, all her friends had plans and she was so excited to see it. Her Mom didn't want to go.... So she called me and asked if I would like to see it with her. I jumped at the chance. Not because of the movie but getting to spend time with her. To be a part of her world even for a short time. Now understand my granddaughter and I are very close but to a 12 year old I at 50 am ancient.
Hot Topics called her name ... so we went to the mall before the movies. I did get a few hints as to Christmas presents.
Although I have not seen the first Twilight, I must say I did enjoy the movie.
The teens in the movie are a bit sadder than I like, brooding and deep but I can see why so many teen plus are drawn into the plot and characters. All in all a good time with her.

I purchased a Twilight calendar the other day and will be trying my hand at making her a Twilight purse. If I manage it I'll post the outcome.
Well untill next time....
Have a Happy Thanksgiving and try not to eat until you explode.

Christmas Tutu Dress

I found the cutest tutu dresses online. They were so expensive I decided to make one myself. I made this for my youngest granddaughter to wear for her birthday or for Christmas dinner with the family. We tried it on her.... it fit perfect and she looked sooooo cute.
The only problem is she refuses to wear it. She throws a fit every time we try to get her to wear it. Evidently she hates red. She loves the purple tutu I made her. Now I wish I had made it in purple. I had made a headband and a matching pair of wings too. You know anyone who would like to buy a tutu dress that fits a 2 to 3 year old with wings and a flowered headband for 30.00 plus shipping? If so... send me a comment and I'll get back to you.

Creating with food

Someone recently sent me an email and got me thinking. People with too much creativity and too much time on their hands. I have done simple food arts like a cucumber shark, a palm tree made from a carrot and green pepper and of course tomato roses. But nothing prepares you for these creations. Who comes up with these? Of course one would have to have some type of sculpting abilities (which I don't) to master several of these. I think I'll stick to my sewing.

If you know of the person responsible for these creations please let me know so I can give them credit.

New Addition and Tutorial

We have a new addition to our family. My hubby got him for me as a present. Picture of him is after the tutorial. The cell phone is for size comparison.
He is a 10 week old weenie dog. My youngest granddaughter gave us his name. So meet "Puppy".
Not very imaginative but cute none the less.
He is so full of himself and loves cuddles and kisses.
So now comes the (Fun ? ) part. House breaking him and training him one a leash.
We went last night to buy a collar but didn't have any luck so I thought until I train him, I'll just make him one. This would never hold a grown dog but is ideal for a puppy.

How to make a collar for a new puppy:
First find a scrap of fabric you like. Measure around the puppy's neck and add 1 inch. My puppy's neck measures 7 inches, so I cut a strip 8" x 2 inches. I also cut some Ultra Firm interfacing the same length. Next step: fold the fabric around the interfacing equally.

Then you fold the whole length in half and pin in place to hold.

I then sewed a 2 inch strip and placed it with the edges inside the folded strip. This will form the loop to latch the leash on. Sew up the length of the folded strip keeping close to the edge.

I then remeasured it (I got it way too long). I added a small strip of velcro to one side and to the out side of the other side. I hope that makes sense.

And there you go.... a training collar for your littlest addition.
I'll post a picture as soon as I can to show you just how cute he is in his new collar.

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!