Ornaments, whimsical painting and Gimli

Two years ago I made handmade ornaments out of fabric, ribbon, beads and other various materials for our Christmas tree. At the time we had no ornaments, nor the money to afford them, so if I wanted any I had to make them with what we had. Well that year over half were eaten or cuddled to death by Gimli and the tree was broken by our cat Chloe. I don't mention her much. . poor meweee. Well about the ruined ornaments. . . Gimli has horrible separation anxiety so whenever I leave the house I have to give him my dirty clothing so he has something to comfort him while I'm gone. If I don't he'll drag something for himself. I once came home and my bras and panties were scattered all over the house! Anyways the year I made the ornaments. . I guess he really like the smell on them since I made them by hand and he'd pull them off the tree when I left the house and lick, nuzzle, sit, nibble or lay on them. Needless to say half the ornaments were destroyed by the end of the holiday season. We haven't yet replaced our big tree (I only have those little decorative trees) but I thought I'd remake some ornaments in case we get a new tree this year. I really hope Gimli doesn't destroy the new ornaments this year. As for the meweee, I think we may have to bolt the tree to the ground so kitty doesn't break it in half.

Candy cane ornament. I didn't like the garish looking red and white fabric so I used the fabric inside out. I think It's much more muted and pleasing on this side. I will probably spray him with glue and add some glitter to him. I tend to personify inanimate objects. :) (Yes I'm a dork) I shall name him Mr. Stripey! He's sewn together and stuffed with fiberfill.


Mr. Lumpy the Christmas tree. hmm I think that button may be a choking hazard for the pets. He's sewn and stuffed as well.


All four of the ornaments playing together.


A star ornie made with star fabric. I think I would have preferred a plainer fabric. Sewn and stuffed again.


My sugar cookie ornament is made with acrylic and wool felt. I didn't have too many colors of felt so I used green for the frosting and beads for the sprinkles. I'm not sure if it comes off as a sugar cookie. The green doesn't seem very frosting like to me. I dyed the white felt with tea to mute it a bit and after it was sewn I painted coffee on the edges to give it a "baked" look. The back is all tinged that color so it looks like it was on the cookie sheet. Now I just have to make enough of each to fill a tree. I have some other ideas for shapes. I'll post those if I make them.


A whimsical, watercolor painting I made some time ago for a kids room. It's 5 paintings in one frame. The two cupcakes are one and they are holding hands. I think it may be a little on the feminine side. Embellished with really fine glitter but that doesn't show up in the picture. I like desserts!


Gimli checking out the Christmas tree that's sitting on the table. I'd post more pictures of Luna and Chloe but they never sit still. Gimli's my little shadow. He's very easy to take pictures of since he's always around!

cottage pillow

Yippee another Christmas gift finished! A cottage pillow made from a Bunny hill designs pattern. I switched the colors to suit the recipient of the gift. I thought it came out decently considering the colors are not my taste. I made this in one day working 12 hours straight. Now if I could only be that productive everyday!

One potholder completed.

My potholder was inspired by one from a Japanese sewing book. I have no idea what the directions say so I went from the pictures. I know I did this incorrectly, but I think it turned out pretty cute anyways. I added my own touches like a stem and seeds. I also like the crookedness and wrinkles in mine. I did that on purpose. :) Photos are poorly lit as usual.

The apple potholder from the book. Isn't it cute?


The front of my pot holder. I wanted to outline the seeds in white embroidery thread but I didn't have any. I think it would look better so I will probably do that once I get some. The seeds blend in too much with the fabric as it is now.


The back of the potholder.

Working on Christmas gifts

Since I'm unemployed, I end up making presents for everyone for the holidays. Usually I'll make a variety of cookies and put them in a tin, give homemade candles or something else handmade. I'm never sure if the family likes them or if they think I'm cheap and giving them hokey gifts. This year I'm making coasters, potholders, cloth napkins, pillows, wall hangings, ornaments and a couple of pencil drawings and quilts for select people. I have about 3480983 things to do so I've been working non-stop. I hope they appreciate my efforts as they are all made with love!

I started a Dexter pencil drawing. Spent about a week or two on it so far in between puppy babysitting. I'm not even 1/8th of the way done yet. I just blocked in the tones so far and I have to go back and put in the details on the portions face and hair I've already blocked in. I haven't started putting in the prickly beard yet. I'm dreading that part. :( I started on the cadaver's pasty hand. I just love this show.


A quilt for little Vinny. I still have to finish the binding, some hand stitching and pull all the threads to the back. Almost done!


A set of 6 coasters I made that will go with 6 matching napkins which I have yet to start.


I'm currently working on a pot holder, a few pillows, tending to a bunch of seedlings, getting ready to start a 2nd drawing and a wall hanging. It's going to be a busy few months!

A few October garden photos

I have a lot more blooming in the garden at the moment but I'm to lazy to take pictures :)

A faerie in a Lobelia plant. I wonder what she's pondering.


A Persian shield. I planted it in one of the only shady spots in the yard thinking it wouldn't survive but it did! It's quadrupled in size in just a few months. This plant is sooo pretty with an iridescent shimmer on the leaves.



Gimli, my lovely cattle dog. All the pictures of Luna were blurred. She just never sits still.


Malope 'Vulcan'. A plant I started from seed. I probably bought the seeds because it was a star trek name but it's a really pretty plant. The magenta really contrast well with the lime green insides.


That's it for now. I love fall. Isn't the weather the best?

Scary

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/331421_bigfood13.html

I've been starting my fall gardening. I pulled out most of my summer vegetables and started some winter ones. Will post pictures and details soon.

Have yourself. .

. . a merry little Christmas. Another card made with stamps by Eat Cake Graphics. Aren't they the cutest stamps? I'm still trying to decide which of these I'm going to use for my Christmas cards this year since they're all so cute. Colored in watercolors, and embellished with glass glitter.

Front view:

Detailed view:

Christmas card with instructions.

This took me all day to make! Colored in watercolor and embellished with gel pen and glitter. I messed up on the tree and tried to salvage it by putting ornaments all over it. Grandma needs to step away from the ornament box. I think she went a little overboard. All stamps are by eat cake graphics.

For the Grandma card:

1. Stamp "Gran's got hot chocolate" and the "Christmas tree" with versafine ink onto watercolor paper with enough distance to slightly overlap the eventual fireplace.

2. Time to make a mask. On a regular piece of paper, stamp "Gran's got hot chocolate" and "Christmas tree" and carefully cut them out with an craft knife. On the back of the paper cutouts apply a temporary liquid glue and let that dry. The reusable mask can be kept on a piece of wax paper for later use.

3. Cover the already stamped images of "Gran's got hot chocolate" and "Christmas tree" on the watercolor paper with the two masks.

4. Stamp two of "Stocking with patches" in the middle of the already stamped images, lining up the top of the stocking with the top of the "christmas tree". Since the stamps will be covering the previous masks, one of the stockings will now be behind Gran's hot chocolate tray when the mask is eventually removed. (The fireplace hasn't been stamped yet so the stockings will be floating.)

5. Make two masks for "Stocking with patches", using the same procedure in step (2), and apply them over the stocking images on the watercolor paper.

6. Use the stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the fireplace so the top of the two stockings are even with the top of the fireplace, and stamp that over the four existing masks.

7. Pull off all the masks and color in the stamped images with watercolors using the same method as the Halloween card.

8. (Optional) Use a white gel pen for embellishments. For example, the snowflake on Grandma's pocket, the steam from the cocoa, the bells on the stockings and the highlights on the wood holder. Use a silver gel pen to outline Grandma's glasses and to write out JOY on the fireplace. (The letters are supposed to be stocking holders.)

(I completely messed up on the tree by adding too much green glitter. Since it overlapped the fireplace there was no way I could salvage the card. By this time, I had put in around 4 hours and couldn't bear to trash it. Underneath all that mess is a tree stamp. :) I figured I could salvage the tree by covering it with ornaments.)

9. (Optional) Using a temporary glue pen, make circles randomly over the "Christmas tree" stamp. Allow the glue to dry for a few seconds, then cover with glitter. (Repeat separately for each color of glitter)

10. Mat the painted images to red card stock, then green card stock. Wrap a ribbon around the bottom. Tape it to a 6x7" card made out of card stock.

11. Stamp "Grandma's hot chocolate is the best!" on a scrap piece of card stock. Mat it to red, then green cardstock, and tape it to the front.

Another Halloween card with instructions and Luna update.

Single, shy, blue Merle, female with dark brown eyes looking for friends. I love chewing on carpet, licking the cupboards, licking the dishes in the dishwasher and eating cat poop. My interests are tug of war, chase, licking the toilet bowl and biting ankles. If interested, please sniff my butt.


A halloween card made with stamps from eat cake graphics. Colored in watercolors and embellished with iridescent paint. As always, the colors aren't accurate and the picture is skewed.

For the Halloween card:

1. Stamp the "porch with light" with black versafine ink on watercolor paper. Hot press paper is best for stamping, as it's smoother than cold or rough.

2. Line up the "candy hands" with a stamp-a-ma-jig and stamp that in front of the porch, then stamp the trick-or-treaters (side). (I got the stamp-a-ma-jig just for this, too. I don't know how I lived without it.)

3. Color the stamped images and layered the colors until they are as vibrant as you want them to be. Layer with multiple colors so the stamped images don't look flat. For example, the sky has around 5 colors blended into it.

4. For the sky, wet the entire background and start blocking in colors, blending the yellows into the blues. Clean the brush off every time so the darker colors don't muddy up the lighter ones.

5. The card is embellished with iridescent medium on the light fixture, bowl, candy, mask, and pumpkins. (It can't be seen in the front view though; only from the side.)

6. Trim the image and layer it onto white card stock. (I made a 6x6" card out of orange card stock and affixed some Halloween type paper to it with double stick tape.) Tape down the matted image to the card base. (I stamped the "trick or treat" stamp onto orange polka dot paper and matted it onto black cardstock.) Lastly, tape it to the front of the card, and it's done! :)

Edited 8/24. Added a better picture. Edited 8/25 with instructions.


I don't approve of mommy's earlier post. That's just not true!


I do enjoy talking to myself. Forgot to mention that I've been so sick the past few months and that's why I haven't updated.

Happy anniversary to us!

It's our 3rd anniversary today! Well I guess that's it. :) Maybe we'll go out to dinner and take a trip to the craft store. lol The weather is going to be really cool today! I guess that's our gift from mother nature.