Blue and White Ornaments

A Blue Sharpie, a smooth, plastic ornament and some basic shapes make for a pretty ornament. As seen on Pinterest, wipe the ornament with some rubbing alcohol, use a pattern or make one up, take your marker and start drawing.  I sealed mine with PYMII.  

The mirrored balls are on a timer.  I mixed 2 strings of battery operated lighted mirrored balls in with the ornaments.  The glass vase and crystal pillar candle holder are from Goodwill.  I'm so happy with this arrangement.  It's also my nightlight. I love how soft the lighting is.  I'm going to hate to take it down.

Holiday Decorating

The small tree in my master bedroom is decorated with vintage rhinestone jewelry and jeweled fruit.  Can't wait for the holiday trees to go on deep discount so I can get a larger one with a revolving stand.  They need some room to sparkle.  Some pieces were my grandmother's, some my mother's, some my friends and the rest I couldn't pass up.  Hope your holidays are going well and you are staying warm and cozy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Feeling so blessed.  Grateful for my loving family and friends.  Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving.

Beaded Spiral Icicles

I have made close to 40 of these beaded icicles.  Some for hanging on the tree, some on the chandelier and some on me!  The Beads Knees has graciously provided a free tutorial HERE.  The pattern was removed from the internet a few years ago, but is now back up.  Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

Wishing you a very happy, creative and prosperous 2018!!!!!

Santa, Sleigh & Stocking

I purchased this Santa and sleigh over 20 years ago at Red Oaks furniture store in Long Grove, Illinois.  I loved that store.  So much inspiration and beauty.  Santa stands about 20" tall and the sleigh is 18" tall, 24" long and 10 wide.   

Santa's bagful of toys was a great find at Goodwill this year along with the 36" sequined stocking.

Christmas Cloche

 

 A touch of vintage.  I purchase resin and bottle brush trees at second hand stores when I see them.  I always use them for something.  The "snow" is wool roving with lots of glitter on top.

Feliz Navidad

 God's Eyes hung from the chandelier, peppers decorated the tree centerpiece and organza napkins added a bright, festive touch to the glassware.

 Seating for 12 with two long tables.

We had a small, intimate dinner for six on Christmas Eve.  Our festive holiday fiesta.

Christmas Shopping

 One of my favorite shops is Scottsdale Marketplace in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

 Lots of handmade felted and needle felted ornaments.

 Love this store.  More coming.

Glitter House

 Small glittered paper house with sleigh and reindeer nestled in some "felted" snow. 

Just Google "Putz House Template" or "Glitter House Template" for free patterns.

Easter Table

 A RAZ Hydrangea Bunny centerpiece, faux food, felted bunnies and eggs, faux candies and polymer clay eggs.  I had fun making all the eggs and felting the bunnies.

I just really enjoy walking by the table.....it makes me smile.

Good Will

 I found this large piece at Goodwill in perfect condition.  I just think it is a beautiful piece.

Harlequin Holiday

 I LOVE MacKenzie Child's products, but can't afford them.  I'm drawn to the black and white checks with the wonderful, crazy attention to detail.  I created a very large centerpiece for our holiday dining table using black, white and pops of red.  This project fell short of my expectations, but I really had fun with it.  The best part for me was the candle holder.  It was a Goodwill find in need of much repair.  It had an uneven bottom and was cracked and chipped.  It was a total labor of love and I'm so happy with it.  I'm actually on the lookout for another one.

Christmas Past

Holidays are over....I know.  Long gone.  However, I am catching up on posts.  This is a Christmas tree made from dozens of different pieces of lace, edgings and ruffles.

Embellished with pieces of vintage rhinestone jewelry and strips of craft pearls.

I don't have a ruffler on my sewing machine, so I lovingly hand ruffled each piece.

This project was right up my alley as far as making messes.  It was a lot of fun.  I saw ScrappinHappy's tutorial on YouTube and couldn't wait to give it a try.  Click HERE for the link to the tutorial.

Spiral Icicle Pattern

 I found the below spiral icicle pattern (click HERE) that is very similar to the discontinued Bead's Knees' crystal icicle ornament pattern I used in the photo above (click HERE).  I will be making some of these for the holidays.

Christmas In July

 

A good friend gave me the crystals from her mother's antique chandelier.  I wired a small hanger and hung them on spiral ornament hangers.  I also hung all 35 of the spiral icicles I beaded.  The tree is so pretty with or without the lights on.

And, yes, the ornaments were carefully packed and the tree dissembled, awaiting the holidays.

I found yards of long blue fringe at a second hand store.  It made the most luscious little tree.  It's all texture and bouncy little strings.

Christmas In June

 I found lots of goodies at Goodwill.  The nutcracker is in almost perfect condition; a few spots of worn paint and a ball is missing on the crown.  Easy peasy.

 The doll is a 1983 Bradley Doll "Send In The Clowns".  I removed the costume, washed it and then I washed the doll (carefully).  The wooden sleigh is going to become a centerpiece filled with fruit, ribbons (the black & white) and greenery.  The sleigh is going to have a few black and white touches here and there; MacKenzie Child's inspired (click HERE).  And the doll is going to be part of the arrangement after I embellish her costume (the black & silver material & ruffle).

That's the plan anyway, but you know how that goes, right?  It will take on a life of its own.

Needle Felted Bunny

Much to be learned about the art of needle felting.  It's fun learning.  I finished bunny, satisfied with it and then thought, "It needs a bit of blush".  I couldn't get the blush applied evenly and applied too much in some areas and not enough in others.  By then, I decided to chalk it up to a learning experience and leave it well enough alone.  Thanks for lending an ear.

Needle Felted Gnome

Needle felting is a lot of fun; very meditative (as long as you don't poke your fingers).  I will add some ribbon to the tops of the Santa and this Gnome so they can be hung as ornaments.  I like how the piece takes on a life of its own.  I had one thing in mind and it went another which is my favorite thing.

Needle Felting Fun

 One of my presents for Christmas was a needle felting kit from Back to Back Alpaca (click HERE).  I have been having fun making a Gnome and a Santa.  Sue Bunch, owner of Back to Back Alpaca is a wonderful teacher and extremely helpful.  Her video on making a gnome got me started.  (click HERE)

Santa was going to have white fur around his hat and mittens, but then I decided to give him a Nordic hat instead.  Since these photos, I have embroidered white thread along the edges of his hat, mittens and bottom of the figure.  It is just that time of the year.