Sharing just bit of Winter in the Coast Range

Well last Monday I went for a ride in the my Hubby's log truck to get a peek at the beauitful winter weather we got in the coast range and thought I would share some of those photos with you . In this photo we are crossing over Mist Mountain; I just love the way the snow is on the trees, and would you believe this is a 2 lane road that is fairly busy at times.

The second picture is at the top of Mist Mountain and I just had to get a picture!

It was just a beauitful drive seeing the snow and peace and quiet that a winter storm can bring to the Oregon coastal range.

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

I wanted to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and share one of my most favoritive videos.
I have so much to be thankful, yes even those adverse times, good times, but also thankful for little things, such as sunshine, rain or snow even and the beauty it brings.
I am thankful for my parents, husband, son, daughter and her boyfriend and the light they bring into my life.
I am thankful to be here to go through my mortal life and someday return home to my Lord and Heavenly father.
I am thankful for the gift of kindness and graditude for others and other living things, I feel so blessed.
Happy Thanksgiving, may Thanksgiving in in your heart all the year around.

What I am working on for Friday, a stuffed plush polar bear

Good Friday to all!

Today I have been busy sewing up my own idea of a polar bear, I designed the pattern this morning and cut it out and began sewing and I am almost done but not quite.

I am using some white fake fur to make the bear and filling him with fiber fill.

I have used black buttons for eyes and nose and have hand sewn them into the head.

On the one arm in front of him I have sewn part of the arm backwards as to take glitter glue and write love onto the the arm of the bear and some x's.

He is going to be about 14 inches tall and I just he was perfect for the Christmas season, I think make 2 or 1 more of him, oh yes I also added a little powdered blush to those cheeks. I should have him done tomorrow.

The Grungy Tom Turkey and His Large Pumpkin a Thanksgiving decor

This is Little Tom Turkey and is Large Pumpkin; I had lots of fun creating this Thanksgiving decor for a center on a table or sitting in a warm place.

The pumpkin and Tom are made from all cotton fall time fabrics and they are my own designs or patterns for both.

Tom looks quite pleased with himself and the pumpkin he has discovered for the holidays. Both Tom and the Pumpkin are filled with beans and fiber fill and I have attached tom with quilting thread to the pumpkin. Tom is 12 inches long the pumpkin is 24 inches around and 18 inches tall.

I have stained Tom with a special oil based stain to get look I wanted and I only did a bit of the pumpkin and I think it turned pretty well; but then that's what I like about using different stains you just never know what you can come up with when working with a pumpkin and a turkey.

I rubbed the stain onto both items and used a warm rag to help blend just touch. Tom has button eyes and there is raffia tied around his neck. I filled them with beans a bit to gift some weight and so that they will stay put and not run on you. It took me a few days to complete them both but I wanted to take a jump back into Thanksgiving being that it is just right around the bend and I will be adding these two to the Art fire store tomorrow.

What I am Working on for Monday, box Christmas Tree Ornaments

For this Monday I am still working on Ornaments for the tree but a bit different; when I was a young girl Santa Claus would bring jewelry for us girls and stick on the tree in small decorative boxes and so I thought I would shard this idea with you.

What you will need are some cute paper boxes that can be bought a any craft store; I just happened to find a couple of stars and an oval box so it can be whatever you would like to do up for the tree.

I am decoupaging the boxes with some neat looking scrap book paper and choose a type of news print but you can use old wrapping paper or some other scrap book paper that you prefer. So I am tearing the paper and dipping it into the Hodge Podge that I have thinned just a little; about a teaspoon of water was added and I have formed the strips of paper over the boxes letting them dry quite well over night.

Then I got out my wood stain and rubbed it on the boxes so that they will look old and of course aged. I don't have the pictures of me using a hole punch for the tops so the I can pull the ribbon I will be using through to tie onto the Christmas tree when it comes time.

In each box add either some cotton for foam and place ear rings, rings or other trinkets into the box and add a small tag with the person's name so that they can find their gift on the tree at Christmas time. I forgot to mention I also added a bit of glue glitter to the boxes let that dry then add the stain and wipe of with an old rag.

What I am Working on for Thrus, Wooden Christmas Ornament's

Happy Veteran's day to all, and Thank you to all those who serve and have served !

I am once again busy creating some holiday items; I have been working on some Christmas ornament's. These are quite simple and fun to make, and any craft store will carry the pre-made wooden pieces. I had some holiday craft paper to use for the little round bulb; what I did was trace around the bulb first and cut it out and decoupage to the wooden bulb. Next I sanded the little bear and added a oil based stain and painted the facial features with acrylic paints. I also stained the bulb first let it dry for a day then painted a few trees and some snow for a cute simple scene.

I need to note; that the bear and bulb are separate pieces that I have hot glued together. The finishing touches are some gold ribbon for the the bear and some jute so that the ornament can be hung on the tree. Yes I am trying to give the ornament's a bit of that old look by using stain. In this next one I used wrapping paper and I used a gray acrylic paint for staining. So far it is coming out just the way I want it ; I sanded the bulb down just a bit to get the paint to give it an old look and I will do the same for the bear which I will stain a black being that black bears are found lots around Oregon. I will be adding these to one of my two stores Esty or Artfire, but I also wanted to share how to make them so that you all can get a bit crafty for the holidays with me.

What I am working for Monday After Nov 8th

Howdy to everyone! well Halloween just seemed to fly right by without a second thought, hard to believe its November and Thanksgiving is in just a few weeks; so I have decided to have free shipping in my art fire store here http://www.artfire.com/users/49stocker
This will go on the entire month of November, in the mean while I am working on this cute gingerbread doll that I will have completed in a few more days and I will add to the art fire store. I am also going to be doing some shows starting November 27Th and I will give more details about that a little later on. I am making the gingerbread doll from some great off brown felt, I have also designed a rick-wrack stitch around the arms and legs using my great sewing machine. The outfit will be a cute dark red Christmas dress with pantaloons and a bow for this doll.
Once again I went to the talking tombstones and had a wonderful time learning about those who traveled to Astoria Oregon and learned what life was like way back when here are a few photos of that adventure.


I love when the local people dress in costume and tell about a certain person, here in this photo I learned about a young woman in love and having some riches but falling ill to a disease. The gentleman below is the first car dealership that came to Astoria Oregon, and amazing enough the whole town of Astoria burned long ago. While he was trying to save the building where he had cars the fire depart was attempting to stop the burning of Astoria by using dynamite and so when the fire department attempted to blow up his building he got up on the roof and began shooting at the fire department with a shot gun, what an interesting story! He chased the firemen away but the fire left the dynamite and so he blew up the house that was next to him!

I love this event because its a bit of history in my own community that I learn about.