Recycling...I Swear!

So, if you read my blog you might know that I like to take photos when I walk my dog.  And you might know that we don't just walk, we hike several times a day.  And you might also know that I have a decent camera, not just a point and shoot.  But you probably don't know that the skorts I wear do NOT have pockets that can hold a smart phone!  I've been looking in stores and online for some time on a way to solve my dilemma of needing to hold my phone in my hand when I take it with me.  I cannot leave it at home...that is NOT an option.  I did buy a Vera Bradley wallet that can hold my cell phone, but I really do not want to take my wallet into the woods each time I head out.

I am the sort of person who knows what I'd like and if I can't find it...I'll find a way to make it.  So, looking at 'how to's' I found this:  Blog with tutorial for making a cell phone holder.

Using the bottom part of an old pair of jeans, that are now shorts, and some other scrap material this is what I did today!

Using this nifty sewing machine I got from my mom...I embroidered a cool design on the jean material

I could get addicted to this kind of crafting!

Ta Da!  

I LOVE the finished product!  I added a clip that I can easily snap on and off my camera strap.  The wrist strap is actually the hemmed bottom edge of my jeans!  The inside material is leftover from some Rip and Tear napkins I made awhile back.  Do you need that link again?  Click here:  Rip and Tear Napkins at Wee Folk Art Blog!

I tell you, we stopped using paper napkins about two years ago.  I don't think I will ever be able to go back!  :)

Crafting Girls...

My daughter and I love creating!  

I think we inherited our crafting gene from my mom. 

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Something Old,

Something New, 

Something Borrowed and 

Something Blue.

I recently made this handkerchief for my niece who is getting married.  The handkerchief originally belonged to my father-in-law, her grandfather, who passed away in late April.  I asked my MIL if I could have all his old handkerchiefs and was rewarded with a pile!  

After embroidering the handkerchief using waste canvas, I dressed up the edges with a bit of lace.

You should be able to click on it to enlarge it and see the detail.

My niece can use this as her something old, something new or something blue if she wants next week. 

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My very talented daughter has been taking Bead Work and Jewelry classes in high school for the past four years.  I love that there are art classes now-a-days that allow smart children the opportunity to be well rounded too.  When I was in high school, the options we had were Band, Track/Basketball, Shop or Home Ec. I did go to a very small school.  I was happy as a Band Nerd, but I wasn't as talented at playing my musical instrument as some of my classmates.  Fun? Yes.  Creative? Not really.  The art classes my daughter takes are wonderful!  She has learned so many techniques and has so many more tools available to her.  Her creative juices have been allowed to flow.  

The above bugs are made from copper with enamel heated on to them in a kiln.  The leaves are from flooring or counter top samples. She is making them as pendants for her class this semester, but I would love to see them placed on a 3D iron vine!  

I know just the spot for them to live!  :)

Happy Valentine's Day! Love, Hootie

Two weekends ago, I was in Chicago with my daughter.  She had ballet summer camp auditions to attend and I had site seeing to do!  In between, we did a little shopping.  While in one shop, I saw some cards that looked very much like this:  

I think they might have been mass produced, but I didn't look much past the $7.50 per card price.  Of course my crafting wheels started spinning and a little of my grandma came out in me as I heard myself whispering, "I can do that."  

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Now, my grams would always have the best of intentions.  IF she ever did get around to making whatever it was...it notoriously looked like crap it was home made.  

Not being held back by my grandmother's crafting memories, I created the above card for my hubby and added the text below on the inside.  

He had to head out of town this week very early Sunday morning, so I tucked my card into his luggage.  :)  

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If you remember being in elementary school, then you know what a very important holiday Valentine's Day can be!  I made these cards below for my friends...

inside it says, "Owl be...it's me!" 

The perfect Indiana Valentine's Card.  I hope all my cyber friends will consider this their little treat from me to them too.  Hugs and Kisses!  ~Hootie

P.S. Did you notice my roses?  My out-of-town hubby planned to have one of his friends bring these my way!

xoxoxo

PIF- Handmade...with a touch of Hootie

Last January, on Facebook, a friend put out a request for other crafting souls to take place in a Pay-it-Forward Handmade post.  I decided to play along.  The only requirements were that you re-posted the "rules" and sent out something you made to people (who commented on your posting)...and you had a year to do it.  Thank goodness for that time!  It only took me 10 months to make and then send my little treats!  

I decided to do something Hootie-ish.  I learned how to knit dish cloths back in the mid-eighties from my husband's Gma.  It's a pretty basic knitting pattern.  Sugar and Creme is the yarn and size 6 are my needles.  You are staring at one corner and increasing by one stitch each time after the initial 4 stitches.  Knitting only for this pattern!  Cast on 4, knit those 4, then K2 (knit 2), YO (one), knit to the end for every row until you have between 40 and 44 stitches on your needle.  To go back down you K1, K2T (knit 2 together), YO, K2T and then knit to the end...until you only have 4 stitches left.  K2T, K2T...then you should only have 2 stitches left.  Knit those 2 together and bind off.  Easy, peasy, lemon, squeezy!  

Well, to make my basic dish cloth a little more Hootie-ish...I found this FREE pattern: Owl dish cloth.  

But of course that wouldn't be enough for my friends!  In my household, we can easily run a knife in the kitchen sink over a dish cloth and make a hole.  Hence, our dish cloths don't last as long as they should/could.  I won't name names, but this seems to only happens when that DH of mine washes dishes...could it be his secret ploy for getting out of dish washing???  

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I wanted to send a little something else that would last longer too.  Inspired by a local artist, Lindsay Hine Schroeder's felt Owl ornament I had bought at a handmade store, I made a "flock" of owls!  

Part of the rules for the PIF were to send treats to five friends.  Since I have a hard time limiting myself...seven friends responded, seven packages were sent!  :)

Knitting Fun!

After I aban- doned that doll project, I started on this owl.  He's a cutie, but much larger than I'd like.  I used smaller needles, but it's still about 12 inches tall!

This was a fun project to try.  I need to work on my transitions from one color to the next.  The feet, wings and beak are all knitted separately and then sewn on to the body.  The eyes are felt, which make the signature owl look.  This guy is now residing in my spare bedroom.  He doesn't have a name yet.  Any one have a suggestion?

In the works....

I am trying to learn to love my latest project. For Christmas, I received this Knitted Toy Tales by Laura Long book from my daughter. It's a great "How to" resource. On FB, I posted a Handmade Pay-it-Forward in January. I am supposed to be making items to send to several friends. I decided I would knit things...so I started with the mouse. Not bad, but a little larger than I was expecting. Smaller needles can remedy that issue. My daughter voiced her opinion and suggested I make the doll. As I started, I decided she needed a name. I keep calling her Hannah or Sid(ney)...my Toy Story reference, since I don't think it's gonna look like the authors doll! I also don't really want to go on and finish her. Anyone want me to send her their way? I'll photo copy the rest of the directions and send her off.

You can even change her name, if you like! I'm going back to making animals. :)

Christmas...Thanksgiving...Christmas...

My crafting efforts have finally been rewarded!

My Christmas stocking, that I started nine months ago when my newest niece was born, is finally done and will be hanging soon on her fireplace mantle.

For some reason, I am now in the mood for Christmas. Hmm. I have promised my teens that I will wait until the day after Thanksgiving to get out my decorations.

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Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.

Great food, no hassle of present buying, and then great leftovers!

Last year I perused a tutorial on Rip and Tear Napkins that my friend Kimara of Wee Folk Art posted on her blog. If you read the comments on the link I've attached to their blog name you'll see I said I was going to try to make some asap. Well, last Sunday was asap for me! Above are my Rip and Tear Thanksgiving Napkins. A year ago I thought the directions for this seemed too easy to be true. I made 8 napkins in less than an hour! Easy Peasy! We've been using than all week and they have been though the washer several times. No sewing on this project and yet no fraying! My siblings may be getting these as their Christmas gifts this year along with a little of my Christmas baking. I think I'll use more neutral-colored material so they can be used all year long. What a fun, green gift!

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I can't wait to pull out my stack of 20+ holiday CD's on Friday. Christmas baking starts just after the decorations are put in place. Who doesn't love homemade buckeyes, cookies, English toffee...?

Season's Greetings all! :)

Pirate!

My months of handy work were ready for our big night, Sept. 10. Save the boots, head wear, jewelry and belt for "Jack", I made it!

With the rented Shipwreck.

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Background for the evening: The event was a gala to benefit our local children's science museum and was called: Science Night Out: Sail the High Seas.

As one of the event co-chairs, I thought it was important that I help set the mood for the other guests...my husband went along. I think there may be a little bit of "Disney" pirate in both of us! My DH truly got into his role. He enjoyed going up to friends that he knows well and baffling them as they puzzled over who he was really. At the end of the night I went to one friend and asked if he knew where my DH was, sure that he had figured it out. Our friend said, no and ask me if my DH even came to the event. When I said my DH was dressed as "Jack" our friend was stunned. "Yes!" he said. He came to his table, stood right behind this friend and spoke to him. With his best Jack Sparrow accent he said, "You don't know who I am, do you?" When our friend responded no, my DH smiled (if you could see it under his mustache) and walked away.

I will be back working on a Christmas stocking (in progress) for my February born niece. While I was making my pirate costumes I had Halloween requests from my teens: Jeannie, from I Dream of Jeannie and Tyler Druden, from Fight Club. Guess I need to cracking on these costumes next! :)

Poor Army Men! and Bracelets...

On Sunday, my DH and I went to a picnic pool party at a friend's house. Our kids were invited, but being 18 and almost 16 (the other kids at the party being ages 5-12), and parents who are...well, parents...our teens opted to stay at home.

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When we arrived home later that evening, I found a teenage friend's car in our drive way and this "stuff" on the kitchen counter. It appears that flaming army men were targets for my son's BB gun that afternoon.

Poor Toy Army Men!

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Several weeks ago I found out I am a Muggle! A couple of Bushwhackers, that I rescued, told me so. They also gave me a treasure! One of their geo-caching treasures...a hematite stone macrame bracelet. :)

Winston and I had been out on a walk when we came across a pair of lost Geo-Caching hunters. They were looking for a drop spot near our house, but they probably walked about three miles from their car and weren't quite sure how to get back. Winston and I walked them to our house, I put them in my car, gave them water and took them back to where they started.

Are you familiar with Geo-Caching? I know Lisa from A Cuppa Tea With Me is! Check out the link for geo-caching above if you'd like more details. Anyone can do it! I choose not to because I just don't have time for one more thing on my calendar...but it does look and sound like fun! Maybe I should hire myself out as a guide for this area? Besides the folks that I rescued we have had two parties of people lost in the nearby woods in the past week. Winston, my DH and I DO know these woods like the backs of our hands!

Inspired by the present I received and a little shopping at a craft store, my girl child and I bought some glass beads yesterday and decided to macrame our own bracelets. Here's my creation...with the little owl of course!

My hematite geo-caching treasure

&

my Owl bracelet

My daughter is such a crafting soul that she barely asks how to do something, but she did ask me to teach her to macrame! While working last night on our bracelets she asked how I learned. Oh the 70's and my mom! Anyone else recall rolling/making beads out of magazine pages? I recall my mom making the decoupage glue from flour and water. Talk about a crafting soul! My daughter certainly takes after my mom. :)

Ballerina Bear

For my ballerina!

I love how this little bear has on toe shoes and a little tutu! I am totally smitten by making these little animals.

From time to time, during the progress of making this bear, my daughter would come and ask to see how it looked. When I finished it and took it to her she paid me the highest compliment..."teach me!" Her summer break starts in just one more school day.

Now that my ballerina bear is done I really MUST get back to working on my Christmas stocking for my new niece. It's one of those felt/sequin/bead/embroidery kits.

*****

For info on the patterns I've been using for my crochet animals: Itty Bitty Animals (Annie's Attic: Crochet) by Shelia Leslie. I think I'll make a monkey next!

This Little Piggy...

...went to live with Tessa!

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My first attempt at making a crocheted stuffed animal.

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If you like hand crafted items, you might check out the give-aways happening over the next few days on the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog. Click HERE or look for the link under Blogs I Read. But hurry! Only a few more days to enter. My favorite part of this event is finding new ideas and blogs to read.

Knitting For Charity Update

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...Here are photos of my daughter (the blue) and my (the pink) cat throws we crocheted on MLK Day.  Very appropriate that Jack would pick the boyish color to clean himself on and Lily the girlish color to lay on!  

Kitty endorsed.  :)  

I delivered our finished products just today even though they've been ready for a few weeks.  Now we'll have to make Jack and Lily there very own blankets.  

For anyone seriously interested in the pattern...it was the most simple crochet:  cast on any number you like (we shot for 50) and then single crochet the rows until the entire skein was used up or you are happy with the size.  I believe we used a G or H sized hook.  The edging was just single crochets all the way around.  I used a different color, but my daughter used the same color as the main body of her throw.  

It was very easy to make these; I taught my daughter how to crochet that morning.  I can see myself making many more of these in the future!  What a nice way to use up old yarn...and the cats certainly won't scrutinize ones handy work!  :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

A week ago I bought myself a little present.  That doesn't happen too often!  For Christmas I requested a CD which I did not get...Joshua Bell At Home with Friends.

It is fantastic!  And, it has one of my favorite songs of all time on it...

My Funny Valentine, totally appropriate for today!  I love listening to this whole CD; it has an international feel to it and it makes me very happy!  

Yesterday I got flowers!  

They were from my FIL.  He brought them over and told me it was a little thank you for taking care of him over these past few weeks.  My MIL had been in DC and did get snowed in there due to the snowopcalypse.  While she was away I fed my FIL dinner each night and just made sure all was fine with him each day.  I could tell by the end of the almost two weeks without his wife around he was really starting to miss her.  He's of that generation who is totally capable, but really likes to be waited on.  Old dogs can learn new tricks but they just don't like to...do you know anyone like this?  I accommodate old dogs!  

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I have said it before and I'll say it again, I love living next door to my in-laws for this reason...I want to be able to be here to help, when ever! 

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This year for Valentine's Day I made my friends some of my homemade coconut butter cream filled bon-bons.  They haven't received them yet though due to the snow we've had and my in-ability to get to school and deliver these treats.  Hopefully tomorrow!  And, if any of them read this blog posting then they will know what else to expect too!  

Thanks to Alison by Hand, I was inspired to make some of my own little containers! What an easy to follow tutorial!  Thanks, Alison.  :)

One of my very special friends will be receiving a little crocheted heart I made.  I found the pattern in an old crochet magazine I picked up while at a book fair with this friend.  The other heart is going to my MIL.  

Here's what Crafting Central has looked like for me lately.  

This morning Winston and I made a special delivery of one of these little containers filled with chocolates and doggie chew treats to a neighbor and her dog, Lovey.  It was so fun to give a valentine to someone who didn't expect it.  

Her smile was priceless!  :)  

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What did I receive from my sweetheart you ask?  Well, really only a true love could appreciate his thoughtfulness...my very own gaiters!  Are you familiar with what those are?  They are covers for one's pants from your knee down to your boot/shoe laces.  Here's an example at L.L. Bean...gaiters.  They are perfect for walking in the snow with a dog in the woods!  :)  I've been borrowing his, my DH's, that he's had for 30 years.  It's fine to share a pair, but like today, we both went out together and then only one of us had the benefit of no-snow-sliding-down-our-ankles-and-into-our-shoes.  That was me, btw.  

Maybe tomorrow I'll post a few of the photos I took from our almost three hour Valentine hike!  

xoxoxo, 

I'm gonna listen to my CD again!

Knitting For Charity

But there were supplies available just in case; wool yarn, knitting needles and patterns.  

Sandwiches were also donated as well as cookies and water!  

Young...

...and not so young!  

Who is this serious crocheter?  

I'm still working on my cuddle mat for the animal shelter.  I'll share photos of my daughters work and mine asap.  :) 

The Sweater!

Flower child that I am, I finally finished crocheting my sweater!  I started this project four and a half months ago.  My original goal was to have it completed by Thanksgiving.  I found it hard to work on something so big for myself on a regular basis.  But, now that it's done, it may have to wait for warmer weather to be worn.  It's much too long to wear with a jacket.  

When I am knitting for charity tomorrow I think I will have to wear it!  :)

My next projects include a felt (kit) Christmas stocking for my soon to be born niece of nephew for December and I want to learn how to knit or crochet hats and gloves.  

B.O. & Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Today I splurged and bought this tall tree candle for myself!  Quite sometime ago I commented about a friend who makes candles from palm oil.  I've been buying his taper candles all year.  Not too long ago my friend's candles were featured in Oprah's Buying Guide.  But I've been buying them B.O!  Before Oprah!  :)

The jar candle in this photo is a Yankee Candle, but the square tapers are my friends too!  The little red tree was a gift to me from my friend so my tall tree wouldn't be lonely.  Aren't they cute together?

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Back on December 2, Sew, Mama, Sew was hosting their annual give away day.  I really did mean to comment about it before it was over so others could go and get in on the fun, but life got a bit hectic.  Well, long story short...I did have a little bit of good fortune.  From Made by the Mama Monster, I won these adorable fabric pieces, a raw edge headband, a Utah Truffle and some other homemade chocolate bon-bons...which I ate all at once!  Did I share the truffle?  No way!  Honestly, I'm not very good at sharing chocolates.   I did let my daughter wear the headband though!  :) 

Hello Monday...

I'm just feeling like it's one of THOSE days. 

 

Monday.

Cold(er than it has been).  

Overcast.

I'm having trouble wanting to get into the swing of the week.  

Therefore, I am taking time to have a cup of tea and ponder.  My thoughts have me thinking Christmas shopping.  It's not working for me though.  I have two sisters-in-law, one on each side, that get their shopping done so fast.  I really, really enjoy the crowds and spirit of the Christmas season.  Plus, about now I'm thinking 'why didn't I start planning sooner, I could MAKE all my Christmas gifts!'  That really is a goal I have.  I do enjoy homemade things and would truly like to start doing more of that for my gift giving.  Maybe if I can finish my sweater I'm crocheting I can make one or two gifties.  

Oh well, time for another sip of tea and then some sweater crocheting.  Happy Monday!  And Leslie, don't be fooled by how much honey is in this little bear in the picture.  It's an old picture from two months ago.  :)  My little bears tummy is pretty empty!  

In the Nick of Time...

Inspired by my cyber-friend Kimara at Wee Folk Art...

...my thumbprint pumpkin cards!  I took a break from life yesterday to play and make these cards.  They are heading out in the mail with Halloween greetings today.  I forgot how much fun thumbprint art can be!  :)

Showers of Happiness!

This weekend I had a bridal shower to attend.  My friends are registered at Bed, Bath and Beyond and we happen to have two shops in town.  I perused the registry list on-line at home, decided on my gift and went to the store to make my purchase.  Two stores in town and neither one had said item in stock!  Seeing as how the wedding is a few weeks away I decided BB&B could ship my gift directly to the bride.  

But as the shower was this weekend, I didn't want to go empty handed.  Here's my improv, hand made gift:  

When opened up it's a 10 inch by 10 inch hankie.  It started as a huge handkerchief which I cut into four pieces.  I charted the names on graph paper, used waste canvas and interfacing and added the lace as a last step.  I used blue DMC floss just in case the bride wants to use this as her "something blue".   On the opposite corner of the hankie I added the wedding date and the location.  

I was toying with posting a tutorial of how I made this hankie, but I've never done that and I'm not sure my readers would really like to see that.  

I'm glad my gift from BB&B wasn't in stock.  It was the push I needed to be creative this week.  

In a crafting house...(and the importance of Art!)

Peek with me into, a cupboard in, my 15 year-old's room...

Crafting supplies and creations fill the shelves!  

Here's a close-up of some of the creatures she made from an Amigori book.  

This girl is her own creation.  

Several Sock Monkeys hang around, each with specially made clothes!  

My daughter is good at recycling.  The monkeys clothes above were an old 

halter top of hers and knit leggings she out grew.   

Sock Elephants too can be found here.  

The gourd bird house I received for my birthday is hanging 

outside right now with sticks poking out of the hole.  

Looking around the rest of my house you can find other treasures my 

crafting girl has made herself and for me!  

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Sometimes, just looking at a shape will inspire my young creator.  

She picked this rock up from our yard or the woods and saw a bunny.  

Thank goodness there are still art classes in our school system.  My baby made this Elephant "Teapot" last year.  The lid does come off.  

The beach is an important place in our lives and mermaids float around my shelves...

above made of cloth and below made of clay 

While I knit a simple scarf or a dish cloth, my baby free hands dolls...

Teeny, tiny flower pots looked like gnome soldiers

I love this clay gnome (below).  He has a rabbit fur beard!  Standing next to him is a wooden figure that I found at my grandmother's house.  I think she may have carved it.  

I do love Tom Clark's gnomes and many are scattered all over my living room, 

but a little fairy sits quietly between these two.  

Here she is up close.  Her arms and legs are bendable.  

And finally I am sharing a shelf I have loaded with trinkets my daughter made in elementary school art class.  

My favorite item is the little hula dancer.  The hula dancer wasn't made in art class though.  

Maybe five or six years ago my daughter was going to make me a gift for my birthday. 

(Home made gifts are my favorite by the way!)  During school my daughter drew a sketch of a hula dancer and planned to come home and make it out of clay for me.  When she got home she was disappointed because the drawing had been accidentally left at school.  I encouraged her to make her creation anyway.  The above girl is that creation.  Two days later my daughter brought home her sketch.  I was amazed how exact her creation matched the drawing!  

Now in high school, my daughter can balance her creativity with her smarts.  She has a schedule filled with honors classes, accented with a fiber arts and theatre class.  

Whether my child knows it or not, she is able to connect her English, Geometry, Social Science and Biology classes to the rest of her life through her art.  These connections are needed for some children.  My son is a bookworm.  He can read something and totally understand it. 

When I look at my two children I know they are the best of both my husband and myself and for that I give thanks.