The End of 2021, A Birthday and My Favorite Finish of 2021

 HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Another year is over and I just celebrated my 64th birthday.  I keep singing the Beatles song "When I'm Sixty-Four".  It was a low key celebration again this year.  I'm still not going out to eat in restaurants.  My daughter and I will pick up food occasionally and take it home to eat, but not often.  I didn't make  my annual rum cake as my birthday cake yet because I'm still eating Christmas cookies.  I'm going to make it next week.  Dear daughter did spoil me with gifts again this year.  I received a new printer, which I needed, a book on Florida history and a book on Florida museums, a book mark, a gift card to JoAnn's and a six pack of my favorite beer from the local brewery in town.   

I have a tie for my favorite finish of this year.  I'm really in love with the Christmas Tree garland I made for dear daughter.  Once the garland was put on the tree I knew all the effort was worth it.  

My second favorite finish is the Bringing Home the Christmas Tree Block pillows I made for me and dear daughter.  Every time I see my red car pillow I think of the red Ford station wagon my parents owned right before my father passed away.  It's one of those bittersweet memories.  The neighbors bought the car from Mom after Dad passed away (my mother didn't drive) and I would see it everyday parked on the street next door.  Very sad.   

  I've been playing with making some Valentine's decorations which I will share soon.  I had fun with some crocheting for those and I love the way they turned out.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

More Stars From Sticks (Sticks From The Yard)

 I gathered up enough sticks to make ten of these rustic stars.  Enough to share with dear daughter.  Five for her and five for me.  They were easy to make after cutting the sticks with my loppers (they were a little too thick to use my pruning shears on).  I cut the pieces 5 1/2 inches in length and I put the stars together with a ton of hot glue on them, then tied up the ends with jute twine from the Dollar Store.   Dear daughter shared that she likes these stars better than the ones made from coffee stirrer sticks.  

  

   Oh, and I put a Christmas tie and a tree on my little Peppermill doggie.

That's the last of the Christmas crafting 2021.  I will be making some cookie press cookies this week but I won't be blogging about those and I'm gearing up for my next birthday at the end of the month.  

The Christmas Holiday Is In Full Swing Here

   I pulled out my embroidery machine a few weeks ago and I've been doing some embroidery to make some small decorative Christmas pillows for me and dear daughter.  I had fun thinking of names of businesses that would be unique. Here are a few of the pillows I made:

     I used Christmas fabric on the wrong side to do some of the embroidery, but I have to admit some of them are hard to read.  I just couldn't bring myself to put all of this fun on plain muslin or white fabric.

     Cold never bothered my anyway

   

     Let it snow

   

    Dear Santa, I can explain

    

    Team Naughty and reverse side is Team Nice

    

    Bah Humbug Lounge (can't you just picture Scrooge at the bar knocking a few cold ones back grousing)

    

    Bassett's Gingerbread Cookie Company

    

    Festive Figgy Pudding Bakery

    

    I have a lot more of these type of pillows I want to make with more little sayings and names I made up for Christmas and Fall.  I'll be making these throughout the next year to get them done.  No rush now.  

   I made a batch of gingerbread men on Monday night.  I use the recipe from The Stay At Home Chef, link here    I like this recipe because it doesn't make a lot of cookies, just enough.  I got a total of 11 from the batch I made this year.  Last year I got 14 out of it.  It was the perfect way to start my holiday season.  

 Christmas garlands:  two wins and one loss.

   At the beginning of the year I posted about crocheting a garland for dear daughter's tree.  We finally got to install it last Saturday and it did not disappoint.  It looks awesome on her old tree, I can't wait until she gets a new bigger tree (hopefully next year) and we put that lovely garland on a new tree.  I'm sure it will shine.

    The fanfold hymnal page garland  I was trying to make from a very grainy picture snapped from a video was a complete fail.  Since I only had the picture to go by and no instructions, I could not figure out how to get the my garland to look like it did in the picture.  After two unsuccessful attempts I scraped the project.  I'm quite bummed but I can't spend time working on it, I have to move on.  

    So I had a bunch of hymnal pages leftover and I found inspiration on Pinterest to make a different kind of garland.  This time with my sewing machine.  I cut out heart shapes, layered three and sewed them together, then I sewed them to twine to hang them.  I got two of these garlands from the leftover pages.  I gave one to dear daughter.  I will be leaving this heart garland up all year.

Quick Christmas Tree Block For My Wire Frame

 I have a wire frame that I usually just keep a blue paper pieced star on.  At fall and winter holidays I just put the frame away because I don't have anything seasonal to put on the frame.  Tonight I made a quick Christmas tree block to put on the wire frame so I can continue to use the frame during the holiday.   I want to make a few different Christmas star blocks and make blocks for other holidays as well.  

Tonight I went to my fabric stash and found the background, the tree and trunk fabric and cut it to size.  The frame holds an 8" block.  The tree and trunk is raw edge applique and this  was a very quick (took me about an hour and 15 minutes to find the fabric, cut it up and sew it up) and satisfying project.

Pepper Shaker Tassel

 I saw a really cool tutorial on youtube last weekend on how to make a full tassel using fabrics and ribbons using a salt or pepper shaker as the holder.  The tutorial I saw used a festive salt shaker, like a santa or a snowman.  It has to be a salt or pepper shaker with a bottom that opens up to fill it so you can run the wire right through it.  

I found this pretty red pepper shaker at goodwill last Sunday for $1.99 and I made a tassel using some of my ribbons and strips of Christmas fabrics.  I cut the fabric (about 1" wide) and ribbons whatever length I wanted.  Since I'm hanging this from the ceiling fan I wanted a long flowing tassel.  I used floral wire to secure the tassel threading the wire from the top of the shaker to the bottom.  I put a red button where the holes are at the top to try to cover that up a little and ran the wire to the bottom to wrap it around the tassel pieces.  It was a quick, easy, and fun project.  

I really like the effect and I want to make some to keep out all year long.   I'm looking for alternate ways to make them like with little baskets or little metal buckets or small wood boxes.  Something I can hide the top of the tassel in but still thread wire through without too much trouble.  Can't use anything glass or ceramic unless it is already hollow with openings at both ends like a salt or pepper shaker.  I'm hanging mine from the ceiling light fixtures, ceiling fans or in door jambs so nosey cats can't get at them.

Another Glue Gun Review

 I bought this glue gun (made by Adtech) at the same time I purchased the mini I have been using.  I did a review of the mini glue gun on December 23, 2017.  The mini glue gun is also made by Adtech. Link to that review is here..  That glue gun is still working very well.  I used it just tonight to replace the regular size glue gun that is not working right.

  The regular size glue gun worked great until last night when it stopped feeding my glue through.  I had to push a stick of glue from the back to get the glue to flow.  It's junk.  I bought it as a supplement to the mini glue gun because it had 2 temperature settings and that seemed like a great feature.  I didn't pay a lot for this item, but I barely used it and it stopped working.  The model no. is 0453.  I need to replace it because I have lots of full size glue sticks I want to use.  I did some shopping on Amazon today but I'm not ready to buy another glue gun just now.  I think I'll wait until after Christmas. 

  I'd like to buy my glue gun locally but I noticed that Michaels doesn't have a big selection of glue guns and JoAnn's sells a lot of AdTech glue guns and supplies.  I will probably end up ordering it from Amazon, but I will wait until the first of the year.  

Pictures of a poor excuse for a glue gun.  

Sticks to Star Decorations

 I made some stars with some coffee stirrer sticks I bought at Michaels.  So quick and so cute.  I hot glue the sticks together, tied the twine on each end then I hot glued the back of the twine parts to secure it.  I can get 10 stars from one package of 50 stirrer sticks.  The cost is $1.99 for the package.  You could paint the sticks, or add glitter to make them different.  You can make these for any season with a color change.  I used crochet thread instead of twine for mine.

A Couple of Projects That I Finished In November

 I have two other projects in the process, but I wanted to post these two projects since November is almost over.

  I bought this little dachshund cookie jar at the Goodwill store.  it did not have a lid but I have a fondness for dachshunds so I picked it up so I could paint it navy blue and put it in my dining room.

Here is what he looked like before paint.  I stole this picture off the web.

Here is what he looks like as a navy blue doggie.  I put a fall bow on him.  It's almost time to make a Christmas bow for him.  My daughter named him Peppermill.

I also found a use for the leftover hymnal pages that I did not use on my hymnal garland that I made at Christmas last year.  I haven't shared the hymnal garland I made yet because I made it right as I was putting the Christmas decorations up.  I will post a picture after I get it out in a few days.

I made a garland for dear daughter with hearts sewn together and sewn to jute twine to hang.  It's six feet long.  I sewed three hearts together and then sewed them to the jute twine.  It was fun to make.

I'm working on some small embroidered Christmas pillows for decorating.  I made up some little names and used some regular sayings and embroidered them onto fabric to make into little pillows, like the Halloween pillows I made.  I'll share them when I get them put together.  I still have to make a few more and then I'll start putting them together.  I'm also working on a decoupage of a napkin that I started but I messed it up and I have to re-do it.  It was for Thanksgiving but I missed that boat for this year.

 

DIY Tailor's Clapper

      I found this video on Youtube, link here and I had to make one.  I haven't purchased a tailor's clapper because it was too cost prohibitive.  I was going to make myself one from a chunk of wood but I thought this was so cute.

     I bought this heart shaped piece of wood at Michael's the other day for about $2.49.  I wanted to do something different with a handle so I bought some vinyl at JoAnn's.  The vinyl was $2.22 for a nice piece (I have leftovers).  I already had the screw.  I like the idea of a soft handle.  

Shopping Bags and Birthday Party

         I finally finished all the shopping bags I had to make from the old curtain fabric.  I got 9 big shopping totes and 2 small totes from those curtain panels.  I gave 4 large and 1 small bag to dear daughter and I kept 5 large and 1 small bag for me.  I use Crafty Gemini's Must Have Tote Bag Pattern as my basic instructions.  The .pdf pattern is on her website and it comes with an instruction video for $7.00.  I've made the tote so many times, I don't even use the instructions any more and you can make the bag in any size.  I did make one change to her pattern, I  eliminated the pocket.  I never used the pocket on the bags I put it on and it's just extra fabric that I could use for the bag.  So I don't even put it on anymore.

         Here is a picture of the bags that I kept.

            Yesterday we celebrated my dear daughter's 45th birthday.  I went to her house to do our usual Saturday meet up.  We walked her dog in her neighborhood, did a run to the grocery store, did some yard work, had lunch and started a movie.  Two friends showed up just about 1:30 p.m. to surprise her.  We shut the movie off and we had a nice visit.  I made her a vegan rum cake.  I used the recipe from Crumbs and Caramel.com.  Here is a link to the recipe:  Vegan Rum Cake.  It was not as easy to make as my regular recipe which uses eggs, instant pudding and cake mix, but it turned out very nicely and dear daughter was very happy with the results.  We pronounced the recipe a keeper.  I bought her the following gifts:

         A manual drill.  (picture borrowed from Amazon)

            In keeping with the tool theme I also bought her a pair of tin snips. (picture borrowed from Amazon)

               I also bought her this fancy tea/coffee mug. (picture borrowed from Amazon)

             I made her more tote bags with this pretty print fabric.  The magnolia flowers were perfect.  She's quite the southern girl.  (This was my secret sewing this year)

         I also gave her some bird and butterfly stickers and a cheap styrofoam toy airplane I found at Five Below because everybody needs a couple of toys on their birthday.

         All in all it was a successful birthday celebration.  There is nothing like a lot of love and a little cake and coffee on your birthday.  

         My next project will be making some embroidered Christmas saying pillows for me and dear daughter to decorate with like I made the Halloween pillows.  I will get my embroidery machine out today and set it up for sewing in the kitchen.  I love having the machine in the kitchen.  I can get to all the working parts easily with it on the counter and I run it while I'm doing other things around the house.   I have to raid my Christmas fabric stash as well.  I have about 9 things on my list to embroider.  I don't know how many I will get done before Christmas, but at least I'll get them started.  

Finished Two Red Knit Scarfs

   I made these two scarfs with a large skein of Red Heart red yarn.  The longer scarf is mine and is 72" long.  The shorter scarf was made with the leftover yarn and measured 54" long.   The shorter scarf will go to my daughter.  I used size 11 needles and 36 stitches for each scarf. 

   Up close.

What was left after I finished knitting.

 

Halloween Decorations Finished

 I finally finished sewing up the embroideries I made for Halloween decorations for me and DD.  It was fun, a process but a fun process.   When I made the  pillows for DD I did each pillow individually and it took me about 5 hours.  When I made my pillows I did it assembly line style and it took about the same amount of time.  Here is a picture of the little pillows I made for DD.

Here is a picture of the little pillows I made for myself.

More Halloween Embroidered Decorations.

 These are like the ones I made last year.  I found a few more quotes and sayings that I wanted to memorialize, so I pulled out the embroidery machine and bought a yard of orange fabric and a yard of purple fabric.   I made two of each embroidery except for the first one.  I wanted a set for me.

You can't scare me, I'm a nurse.  This one goes to DD.

Let's fly witches.

Ding dong the witch is dead.

Fly my pretties

Head witch in charge

Sleep, those little slices of death; Oh, how I loathe them. (Edgar Allan Poe)

I became insane with long intervals of horrible sanity. (Edgar Allan Poe)

hocus pocus time witches

So I'll be adding 1 inch borders to each of these and then putting envelope backs on each.  The pillow inserts are being made for each pillow with my fiberfill and white muslin.  So easy to make and lots of fun.  

Light Board Review, New Hand Embroidery Project and Knitting My Red Scarf

     I recently purchased a light board from Amazon and I thought I would do a quick review of it.  Here is a link to the one I purchased from Amazon.  I paid $39.99 for it because it was a little bigger than the $18.99 light board from the same company.  It's described as coming with a magnetic clip which is the black clip on the top.  

     Two things I didn't like about the light board are:  (1) the magnetic clip that is described is not very strong and does not hold anything in place.  I ended up using painter's tape to keep my pattern and fabric in place while I was tracing my embroidery pattern, and (2) the power cord is not very long and this board has to be plugged in while in use.  I ended up using it in the kitchen on the counter so I could have it plugged in and flat on the counter to get my projects traced.

    On the positive side, the light on the board is great.  There are 6 levels of brightness and I enjoyed using the different levels.    

     It's a good tracing tool and I will keep it. I don't know if there is a better light board out there.  I would love a light board with more clips and stronger clips and a longer cord or a rechargeable light board would be wonderful so I wouldn't have to have it plugged in while I use it.  

     So I mentioned that I did some tracing.  I started the Kathy Schmitz (she has tons of embroidery patterns and they are all beautiful) Liberty Sampler embroidery project.  I want to make two of these.  One for me and one for dear daughter.  I did my tracing with a Pigma pen.  I bought a set of these a few years ago and I used the light brown.  I even got started with the embroidery with the top border.

    After I finished the Christmas Tree garland in April I started knitting a red scarf for me.  It's a simple garter stitch scarf.  I'm using size 11 needles and it's 36 stitches wide.  I have 43 inches knitted so far.  I want to make it 72 inches long.  I have plenty of red yarn.  I think this was a huge skein of Red Heart Super Saver that I bought in April.

   I may get a chance to do some sewing this weekend and make the 10 tote bags that I have cut out from the old curtain panels.