Saturday, April 14, 2018

Garden Geraniums

  Last year, I found geraniums in terra cotta pots at Hobby Lobby for $29.99 (without the 40% off coupon).   They were so lovely they have them again this year:




I tried to make my own version (using stuff mainly bought at Hobby Lobby)


Starting with a silk flower or more (regular price $2.99, but I waited for the 50% off sale) and I found a clay pot that I thought looked like the right size for the flower.  (Full price $1.38; bought at 50% off)
I painted the pot with white paint (swiped on the clay pot with a wet rag) and with some green paint and some brown paint with sand mixed into it.  The pot would need some weight to keep it from falling over, so I put some rocks in it.


Using a styrofoam ball the same diameter as the inside of the clay pot


Cut in half


I used Liquid Nails (not bought at Hobby Lobby and used because it will hold outdoors in the weather) to glue the styrofoam ball into the pot.

Then the flowers were added:


This one used 2 of the red garden geraniums.

And this one used only one:


Tried using 2 white geranium stems without painting the pot:


And a larger clay pot with 5 white geraniums:


I used the Liquid Nails to glue a little of this grassy mossy stuff to cover up the top of the styrofoam balls:



(The real name of garden geraniums is pelargoniums). 

 I tried to make one using a mini-rose bush and some generic purple stems too:


When I was a child everyone put real flowers on the graves on Memorial Day and all summer long, people would come to the cemetery to water the pots of  flowers.   I am going to put these pots of geraniums on the graves this year (no watering needed).  I am hoping small and classy will look nice.




To forget one's ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root.     --Chinese Proverb


Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.                        -- Gerald De Nerval



Monday, January 29, 2018

Puppy Pillow

Pillow case, sewn for the dogs' pillow out of flannel material.  Warm and soft.  

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Little White Houses



Painted and glittered these little wooden bird houses to use on the "white" Christmas tree that I am planning for 2018.

2017 Metallics Tree

 The owl topper is casting a shadow, so it looks like it is hitting the ceiling.  It didn't.  (Claudia in bed).
Theo  -- He's right up on the camera trying to see if I have a treat for him.  

If I ever collect enough tree topper angels, I am going to do a whole tree of them.



Red Tree 2017




2016 Tree


Monday, February 15, 2016

Cardinal Family

There are 3 cardinal families living in my backyard.  In a ideal world they would pose for a photo, instead, I try getting a snap or two one at a time.






It snowed the biggest part of the day, yesterday, but the total accumulation was only about 3 or 4 inches.  The birds have been flocking to their feeder like it was a week long blizzard.  :)

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Where did the time go? Again!

Don't know how the time got completely away from me -- again.  The only thing to do is to jump right back in and try, try again.

To catch up, just a bit, here are some Christmas 2015 pics:

Christmas Tree 2015

 
Detail Christmas Tree 2015

This is my granddaughter and the Gingerbread House she made from a Hello Kitty kit:
December 2015

And this is the Reindeer and Sleigh Gingerbread that both grandkids worked on together:
  2015

And this is a picture of the throw that I crocheted for my sister as part of her Christmas:

Slip Stitch, Half Double Crochet, repeat
That's about all the "crafty" stuff, I have pictures of from Christmas, because unfortunately, I didn't get any Christmas cards mailed for the first (and hopefully the last) time ever.  Merry Christmas --

 What should I do Next?   What are you all up to?


Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Men's Black

This scarf was made using a 9mm hook and Lion Brand Hometown USA bulky yarn, Oakland Black.  The pattern is worked length wise:  hdc on front loop for one row, then hdc on back hook for the next row, and continuing in that manner until the last row which was worked through both loops.  It measures 4 1/2" X 63 1/2".


Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Red Fisherman

Here's a classic style scarf (Fisherman) breaking tradition in bright red.  The yarn is Premier Yarns Everyday (Medium weight, 4 ply) in "Really Red."  Using hook I for the body and cables and hook K for the bobbles made the measurements come out to 4 1/2" x 40 1/2". 

Premier Yarns Everyday  "Really Red"
The picture isn't very good, because of the dreary day today (snow and ice), but the cables and bobbles still show -- so good enough, huh? 


Sunday, February 22, 2015

Blue Boys'

   Form MUST follow function.  Ok, that's just my opinion: but, I honestly don't understand flat roofs in Indiana, dressers with tiny drawers, and winter scarves that don't keep out the cold and won't stay wrapped around a neck.  Super long and solid scarves for me.  I just hope the people I am making these for agree!

Lion Brand Hometown USA Chicago Charcoal  $2.99 per skein

Yarn Bee MadCap Navy  $7.99 per skein

The pattern I used was a simple single crochet, chain one pattern.  The Mad Cap yarn is flat and almost velvety to the touch.  I can't decide it I like it mixed with the bulky Lion Brand yarn.  Maybe, I should have held the Lion Brand in with the MadCap.  Hmmmm....
5 1/2 X 58 1/2

There is about 5 or 6 inches of snow on the ground -- perfect scarf weather.

Hope you are staying warm!

Monday, February 9, 2015

Amelia's Scarf

   After deciding that the pink and orange pom-pom scarf is going to go in the Good-Will bin, I went shopping for yarns that I like better.  And I think I found the type yarn that the girls' scarves will mainly be made with.  Yarn Bee Soft Illusions. (Of-course, I am likely to change my mind again later).  It is made for Hobby Lobby and sells for $6.49 per skein.
   I tested different stitches with the yarn and decided that I like the way the scarf hangs when using a simple half-double crochet stitch.  I used a size M crochet hook.  It measures  5 1/2" x 47" and took almost 2 skeins to make.

This one is for Amelia:

Yarn Bee Soft Illusions Islander

Can you tell it is fuzzy? 

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

One Hour

    Pinks, purples and oranges are really big with the 3 to 6 year old crowd in my family.  This scarf I made with Allie (age almost 4) in mind.  Thus...

The color of the yarn is called "Peachy."   I got it at JoAnn Fabrics today.  It was on sale for $7.49 per huge 258 yard skein (normal price $9.99):
Bernat Baby Blanket   100% Polyester
It is a super bulky yarn, chenille like, with absolutely no fuzz.  I used the entire skein (including making the pom-poms) and it took me an hour to crochet.  

Here it is modeled by one of my old dolls:
That doll is almost 50
 The scarf measures 5 1/2 X 52 inches (plus pom poms).   It is done in a series of double and single crochets (to keep it rather tight, so it won't snag on things as easily as it would if it had a more open weave).
Pom Pom Scarf with Allie in Mind

February 9, 2015 Note:  I decided this scarf is going to go in the Good-Will box.  The only part of it I really like is the huge pom-poms! 

Monday, December 29, 2014

A Gift of Inspiration

  My cousin bought me a hand crocheted scarf at a craft fair for Christmas -- so soft, so bright, so "Hey, I can make this!"
   So, I am hoping to make several scarves in the coming year to give as gifts for Christmas 2015.  It seems fitting that this first scarf should be made with a pattern named 'The Gift.'

I opted for a cream color ('Pearl') yarn by Yarn Bee.  It cost $5.49 per skein at Hobby Lobby (gulp! I didn't have a coupon!)  The yarn:
Yarn Bee  Andes Alpaca  (70% Acrylic 30% Alpaca)

It took 480 yards (4 skeins) and a full day to make this:

The Gift      by:  Inner Yarn Zen Designs


Detail of the Front

 The reverse side:
Pattern:  The Gift     By:  Inner Yarn Zen Designs 

  

Detail of the back

The scarf measures approximately 8 1/2 inches wide by 66 inches long.  Plenty of scarf there to block the Indiana winter winds. 

Hope you received a little inspiration this Christmas, too!


Thursday, December 25, 2014

Christmas Tree

Last year's tree was composed of tons of garland and maybe a half dozen actual christmas ornaments.

last year's tree - 2013

This year's tree is composed of all ornaments (mostly glass balls and German glass) and no garland:

2014 Tree in original location

2014 Tree Moved

Detail of 2014 Tree

Claudie and Theo tuckered out after opening and playing with their Christmas presents:

Claudie loves her new ball.


The Snow Baby display this year (I must have been holding the camera crooked):

SnowBabies

And the two cutest people in the family with their very un-photogenic Grandmother.






Have a Blessed and Happy Christmas Everyone!