Getting Ready

My sweetest of friends Vivian, Viv out on a Whim, left me a message on a recent post saying that she was gathering things together in anticipation of beginning her holiday craft projects. I adore Vivian; and if she says it's time to start gathering, it truly is!

I could not believe my good fortune in finding a third curvy wooden container. White house paint on hand for the outside, red craft paint on hand for the inside, Polka Dots all around. The raised center panel was perfect to Modge Podge vintage Santa images cut from a sheet of scrapbook paper. A final coat of craft varnish, and my tray is ready to hold things to inspire my holiday crafting.

I am excited to see where my felt crafting will take me this year. I am still enamored with the colors of my most favorite keeper of time, Mr. New Year himself.

I know, I know! I should be called the Mary Poppins of blogdom. "Spit Spot, everything in it's Spot". A gentleman came to our house this past week to appraise it's value and made the comment to my husband that our home was "unusually" neat. Hmmmmm.......

Look! My paper clay Santas now have their button snow.

It may still be Halloween just over my shoulder, but at my craft desk I'm getting ready for Christmas!

Aunt Joanie

Aunt Joan is our family's cheek pincher. There is always one per family who at first thought seems to be the one to avoid. Her arrivals at family occasions become an event in themselves. Arms loaded down with a little something for everyone, glasses fogged from the cold, coat and scarf and gloves to be removed, mid-sentence before the thresh hold is passed. "Oh darling, you wouldn't believe the traffic. Help Aunt Joan with her packages."

Free of encumbrances, aware of her audience, Kleenex in hand, ready to greet. "Oh sweetheart, I am so happy to see you. Give Aunt Joan a kiss." Shoulders held to better remember, "Dear, how are you? You know I just haven't been sleeping well. Let me tell you."

Settling in close to give you the scoop, interruptions for each new cheek to kiss. Threads of conversation held by the listener, "Where was I darling, you wouldn't believe!"

Aunt Joan has always been this way. A career spent in the accessories department of Lohman's attending societies bargain hunters has created a woman who will fawn over anyone. "Of course you look stunning in that leopard print hat, it's you!" "Oh honey, I just want to squeeze that adorable face of yours."

A little of Aunt Joan can go a long way! Her solicitations can become over bearing at times. My husband; however, has a soft spot in his heart for his Aunt Joan that for years I just couldn't fathom the reason. How many countless times she would lean in to me to whisper, "He always looks like he has just stepped out of a band box. Neat as a pin, and always the penny loafers."

Seasonally Challenged

Are you someone who has a difficult time adjusting to the change of seasons? I certainly am as Indian Summer weather falls away leaving morning chill confusing my choice of clothes to wear for the day.

My body comfortable with the memory of it's lightweight summer wear resisting any new choices that now feels burdensome and strange.

It seems I am this way about my crafting as well. One last visit to warm weather crafting with a character that just could not wait until next year's summer sun.

Of course there had to be a whale among my Cape Cod Cuties. Don't you just love his spout of spouting water?  You can just catch his fluke over his left shoulder, that is if whales do have shoulders.

My little whale uses the same pattern as Louie the Lobster. This is one of my more simple patterns to make and can easily be completed in several hours.

And so until next season, these fair weather characters will winter within the doors of my wonderful Hoosier. I don't think there could be a Cuter Place to Be!

Well, dressed in warm weather wear, I am nearly ready to begin crafting all things wintry.

Whale uses this pattern as well, create fluke.

"Yes. We Have No More Peanuts"!

I just give up! There is to be no more introspective pondering about why on earth I am compelled to make things that really haven't any reason to be made other than their cuteness needing to be revealed.

No more obsessing over reasons to explain why a grown adult woman would spend her time making such child like things. No more pondering if Mary Englebreit has relatives who just don't understand her need for cute.

Creativity seems to have a mind of it's own in whatever form it takes. Like this elephant, it is persistent beyond reason. "Yes! We have no more peanuts"!

I am secretly proud at having filled an entire binder with patterns I have created on my own.

I am beyond excited when others will tell me they were thrilled to find one of my characters come to life in their own hands.

My new attitude is "If you can't find peanuts one place, look someplace else"!

I declare this blog to be mE! (thereI'vesaiditoutloud)

If you are looking for peanuts. This is the Place to Be!

Invitation in Hand

Whenever I am invited to an occasion, I always have my invitation in hand when I arrive. It's not that I think the hosts will have forgotten they invited me, but it is a chance to acknowledge the thought they have put into the invitation sent.

These little party goers are leaving nothing to chance as they arrive at the festivities appearing on my craft room shelves.

Each character consists of purchased pre-painted wooden beads for the head, (I painted hair on this one) pipe stems for the body. A paper base allows the characters to stand.

This little witch's dress is made with pinked pleated crepe hot glued in place.

Tag along brothers appear ready for fun in their Cute as can Be costumes.

Pinked strips of orange crepe are Mod Podged directly to a small sized Styrofoam ball after inserting pipe stems for head, arms, and legs.

Leaves are cut from several layers of crepe, vine from twisting crepe between fingers.

I have a penchant for Red Devil costumes but only if the are as Cute as Can Be. EAKS! Fashion Police Alert! Two Red Devils at one party! My little red bird seems to be processing this information.

One bent pipe stem is inserted into head bead to create body base and legs. Body: coil stem around a pen, cut with wire cutters, slip over legs to form body. Arms: length of stem is slipped between body coils. Sleeves are formed by coiling stem around candy stick. Cut and slip over arms. Pants: same as sleeves.

Hat: Two inch circle of felt is folded in half, cut widows peak. Hot glue from center of circle to edge, pinch with fingers until sides adhere. Fit to head and trim back of hat.

Hot glue length of ribbon to back of head bead at an angle. This secures ribbon in order to tie a bow. Hot glue hat in place. Hot glue horns.

I absolutely adore crafts made with pipe stems. They speak to me of my Uncle Howard who smoked a pipe, the smell of cherry tobacco filling a room.

You haven't an invitation, you say?

That's okay! We know a party goer when we spot one!

Lawn Couples

Saturday's are the day my husband and I spend out of doors working in our yard. I love to think that passersby who have seen us over the years have come to expect if they see one of us they will see the other.

There is a camaraderie among Lawn Couples in our neighborhood, and it is not unexpected to stop curbside to chat about the amount of watering that was needed over the summer in relationship to the amount of rain that fell. We might not know anything else about the couple, but still we look forward to their friendly waves of greeting when seen together in their yard.

So please, if you should be anywhere near Delaware in the Heart of Ohio, and see an older couple happily working in their lawn side by side, do stop and say "Hello!" We will be so glad to say "Hello!" as well.

PATTERN NOTE: 4th of July Miss Liberty pattern to make clown.body and head here. Features can be easily cut free handed.

Rosie on a Pink Saturday

I haven't always liked elephants. In fact as a child I avoided at all cost any reference to the wrinkly pachyderms for fear the connection would be made, "E" for Elephant, "E" for Elizabeth by classmate's wandering attention from the teacher to the alphabet picture chart above her head.

Thank goodness my persistent yearly prevalence to my mother to officially change my name was met with the same decline. I now adore elephants with their long memories and old souls.

A Rosie elephant of my own to reside in my beloved craft room was just the perfectly perfect craft to make in celebration of Pink Saturday.

That there just happens to be a Circus in progress on my desk top is just the best coincidence ever!

Who wouldn't extend a "Join Us!" invitation to someone who can carry their own baggage.

Well maybe "some" need a little more convincing ...

when you are likely to become the star of the Big Top.

But even Vernon knows a circus is like a big family, and there is always room for one more.

Truly, this Pink Saturday could not have a Rosier ending!