Comfy, Crafty, Campy

I admit this is something most people learned to do when they went to camp. For many people it was their first simple sewing project without a needle. For me it comes at the age of 40 as part of a Christmas gift I bought myself and it was easy and fun. Perfect little Christmas day project that made me feel productive.
I bought a moccasin kit from Tandy Leather Factory. The kit is inexpensive and you need nothing else with this kit to make the moccasins. You can by them in whatever size you like and they include both youth and adult sizes. The instructions are fairly clear and the few illustrations really do help the project along. You start at the heel move to the tow and by the time you are sewing on the cuff of the shoe, you are an old pro. It comes with a comfort insole already glued in so you will know which is right and which is left. The soles are soft leather, so I think mine will be worn around the house instead of outside in the yard. I admit they are not the most perfect look specimens, but they are comfy and I like them mainly because I made them. If you need a medium length project with kids this would be perfect. It does not involve sewing needles you are just using shoe laces, and it really does boost your self-esteem when you finish, plus it is nice to make something that you can actually use.

Painting in a Gift this Holiday Season

I am always trying to expand my craftiness. recently my mother moved and has several items in storage including items for her guest bedroom. So to get the room ready for guests she ran out and purchased the most appealing bed in a bag that she could find. However she found accessories for the room and things to put on the walls were lacking. Everything she found was rather pricey and it was driving me slightly nuts that she was considering on spending that kind of money on things she really didn't care about. So to solve her problem I offered up some of my water colors that are done and sitting in a drawer.
After bringing back a set of pillow cases and realizing how modern this room was I did not think any of my water colors would work (they are mostly beaches, lighthouses, hot air balloons, that type of thing). With an art set sitting in my all purpose room screaming my name it did not take long to come up with the idea of designing and completing paintings for this room.

I bought some canvas and went to planning. Actually it did not take long for the idea to hit me. It took forever to find the time to do them. So in my traditional Christmas Eve Christmas morning project mode I set forth to do these paintings. I waited until midnight Christmas morning when my mother had fallen asleep (yes, I knew she was asleep because I could hear the snoring the entire time I did this), and gathered up my painting items and spread out across my kitchen. I set to work lining things up, matching colors, figuring out the design and then had at it. I mixed colors as I went and enjoyed the entire experience with the stripes and circles.
I had also located some very small canvas that I used to paint a complementary design to go with the three other paintings. Although the lines are not perfect and the circles are not perfect I think that adds to the charm of the pieces. For my first acrylic paintings I am fairly pleased. The idea is that they can be hung together in a series or separately. Whatever mom would like to do.

By four a.m. the canvas was set out to dry in the multipurpose room and I was headed to bed, only to get up four hours later to open presents and present the artwork to my mother. At the end of the present session I made her close her eyes and I brought them out. She knew immediately that they were for her spare room and asked where I bought them from (which could be a sign she wanted to return them...) I told her I had painted them. She quizzed me on when did I have time to do it. I would not fess up on that one (of course if she reads this the jig is up). I did put them back out to determine if I like them or not and I think I do like them. I also think I may try this endeavor again in the future.

Warming up Something Big for a Friend

I explained in an earlier post that the reason I have not been blogging on this site has to do with a special present I made for an incredible lady. Ms. Mary as we called her in our office was the lady who cleaned up after us. If you have ever been to a 4-H event you can imagine there is a lot of cleaning to do. She also cleaned up after everyone else in our office, but I think we created the biggest headaches for her. To explain Ms. Mary to you...she was over the age of 80 and employed full time, by the county, as the custodian of our building. She has a spunky and feisty personality, and just tells it like it is, so don't let your feelings get in the way. She had a tendency to chase me with a mop if I even thought about stepping on her wet floor and often came after me with the rolling trash can if I was darting around the building (which I have a tendency to do). That is not to mention the other implements she has chased me with for comments I made, didn't make, and just because it gave her joy to do so. Before she left for knee surgery she had asked me to make her something when she retired, anything I wanted and that her favorite color is blue. Not dark blue, not light blue but blue.

That being said, in Ms. Mary's honor I have completed probably the biggest knitting project I have ever done. I made a throw with a square pattern in it that when stretched out covered the top of a queen size bed looked like I was getting ready to play a really big game of checkers. I used a medium blue and it took much longer than it should have. Between my counting issues, pattern issues, and pulling it out completely twice (or possibly thrice) I finally got it all together and completed it after knitting on and off for six months. According to the pattern it should have only taken 18 hours. I know it took me longer than that. The incredible people I work with helped pay for the yarn, which took 12 skeins.

Right before Christmas, my supervisor, his administrative assistant and I went to her house to deliver it to her. She pulled it out of the bag (and kept pulling and pulling) and wrapped the blanket around herself. She seemed very pleased with the gift and said it was going on her bed so she could pull it up over her and around her whenever she wanted. She seemed to know it was made with a great deal of love and appreciation. We hope she will think of us whenever she uses it.

Crafty Building Blocks

In case you haven't noticed I like the idea of being crafty. That is sort of like, I like the idea of playing golf. I attempt it and every once in a blue moon I have a straight shot or sink an amazing putt but all in all, it is more that I like the idea of doing it and am not that good at doing it. My crafting is the same way. Sometimes what I am making looks like I want it to, and other times it falls short.

Although I love the idea of turning glass blocks into works of art, I must
admit I am not sure that I am that good at it. Once again that isn't going to stop me. After attempting 16 4-H clovers for work (we used the blocks with battery tea lights in them for decorations for our annual Volunteer Banquet) I decided to branch out. I have two people that I work with that I always want to create unique and wonderful gifts for because they are truly to unique and wonderful people. So for them I set out to create something different. One likes and collects Santas (she actually has more than 100 different Santa Clauses and they are really cool), the other has a thing for Dale Earnhardt Jr. So I painted the blocks with a stained glass paint one in a star shaped Santa and the other with the car number of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (88).

I stuffed the blocks with 100 clear white Christmas lights and they will shine just like a tree, especially at night. Although they don't look exactly like I had hoped...I hope it will bring some joy when they look at them unique and shining...just like them.

Going Green!

I admit that is has been awhile since I have posted on this site. If you have noticed any of the other sites (Custom Cakes 4 You, Robeson County 4-H, 4-H in Italy) I work on you might guess why. However for those of you who know me you know I like to be crafty and so even with all my other pursuits you are probably guessing I have been up to something. I have been up to a big something but it can't be unveiled until later (don't want to ruin the surprise).

In the meantime I had a little spare time on my hands and did a little green knitting. No I don't
mean the color of the yarn I mean knitting something that will cut down on waste and is recyclable. I knitted a floor duster cover. I knitted it with cotton yarn and it is very soft. The knit one pearl two knit one rows create ridges that trap the dust and dirt. When the cover gets full you can turn it inside out and continue. When you are finished dusting with it instead of throwing it out you just toss it in the washing machine, wash and dry it and use it again. Is that green or what!

I am thinking I might need a few of these, and I have friends who might need some stocking stuffers this year...what a great gift!