What I am working for Jan 21, 2011 Rag cloth dolls

I got busy this afternoon, I found an old rag doll pattern and decided to use it but I will be making some serious changes to to the dolls as I create them. The pattern is an old McCall's pattern that I am altering somewhat; I just love using a pattern piece from all different patterns just to see how dolls will come out.

I am using a heavy duty fabric for the dolls, and right now I am in the process of staining the fabric, the body fabric is Onsburg but it is heavier and lighter. I will let this set for an hour and then bake the body pieces in my oven at 200 degrees. The stain is a mixture of brown acrylic paint and a some instant coffee about a table spoonful. Once the dolls are dry I will rub cinnamon into the fabric for more aging. I will be taking more photos and posting showing how the dolls are coming along and what/how they will turn out. So I hope you tag along and see how the dolls and cloths come out all this coming week.

Talking about a Wall Hanging Quilt Called Colors of Winter

A big hello to all! I am back at working on my blogs once again. Christmas and the new year were very busy for me this year and so my blogs did not get the attention they needed but here I am again and off to a new year and a new start on the blog.

I call this wall hanging quilt colors of winter because I was thinking of a winter that one might spend in a log cabin looking out their bedroom window and guess what; this is what this quilt is about.

The backing is quilting batting and a plaid flannel that was used, all the other fabrics are just cotton fabrics with lots of color. I thought the tie dye cotton just fitted the mood of winter so it became the back round or the skyline for the setting of this quilt.

The idea of the story is you are looking out a big picture window in a log cabin bedroom there is the bed with a warm plaid flannel blanket and by the bed is a small chest with a lit candle flickering away. As you look out the window you see horses racing away from some black bears and a bunch of trees that have grown tired of the cold winter that has befallen them. It also would not be winter with lots of snow on the ground, of various shades.

I began first by using some muslin and then whacking out each portion of the winter scene and just using some un-knotted embroidery floss, I just did a few stitches to hold the scene in place before the final sewing was done. Another thing I did while sewing this quilt was to use some wild stitches with my sewing machine around the trees most using a bright mixed colored embroidery floss around the trees to give the effect that moss is growing on them.

The quilt took about 2 weeks to make and is original in that I used not a single pattern but just my imagination to make the winter scene.

What I am Working on for Tuesday Dec 7

Well I just finished up this primitive winter scene on a chalk board all I have to do now is add the cording for hanging. I have a ton of fun painting with acrylic paints on the chalkboards you can find in any craft store. I start by sanding down the wooden framing on the chalkboard so that it will hold the paints and stains. In this case I just started painting free hand what I wanted and things that came to mind for a cute winter scene. I also used some glitter paints in the picture and when the scene was completely dried I added an oil base stain and took a cloth and did some wiping off the stain. I just really like the affect I got with the stain and paints in which I also did a bit of wiping off on the wooden frame to give it aged withered look just a tiny bit.

A New Cookie Recipe; Snow Melted Mud puddles

Hey to all!

I have an unusual cookie recipe for you, I just happened one day to make these by mistake and they are quite ugly looking but, oh yum!

Most of all they are easy to make... here is what you will need:

• One box of chocolate cake mix
• 1 cup of small marsh mellows
• 2 cups of chocolate Rice Crispies

about one to 2 cups of butter softened

Add your cake mix and rice crispies; add the butter,add one cup first and mix with spoon, until crumbly, and if holds it together pretty well; such as you can roll a ball then don't add the second cup, sometimes it just depends on the type of cake mix you are using, if its too crumbly then begin a bit the the second cup of softened butter and add until you can form a round ball and it all holds together is the best way I can explain this...

Now add your marsh mellows and mix again by spoon until it's all well mixed up; now to form the round balls again, they don't have to be perfectly rounded balls kind of throw together making sure the marsh mellows stay in the mix. These balls are about the size of an ice cream scoop or just a tiny bit smaller. Add the balls to a well greased cookie sheet and bake 12-14 minutes at 350; actually check on them about 10 minutes and see how they are looking they should come out like the pictures above, looking like a pile of mud with a little bit of snow in them! You want the marsh mellows to melt! so that it looks like mud and snow mixed together. You will get 24 cookies because they are so large

Let them cool good and be careful about removing them, take a spatula all the way around the outside edge to loosen as to keep them from falling apart.

The uglier they are the better! I have found they make a great gift idea for your neighbors, friends, family, they look ugly but taste good.

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.