Gettin' my craft on

All this rain and cold weather makes me want to create something so I set out to do just that on Monday. Here it is Thursday and I am finally getting back to finishing the projects. Above are some new coasters but they feel sort of fallish, so I think a trip to Michael's is in order to get a big spring-ish stamp. However I need to fill an order so that was the goal. Next came the wreaths. These guys have been on the brain for a few months, in fact they are a birthday present for my friend whose birthday is (this is embarrassing) New Year's Eve - not that it's embarrassing to have a birthday on New Year's Eve - no, what is embarrassing is that I am just now finishing the promised present - OI! So from flowers I dried this summer Lavender, globe amaranth, statice and some silk vines I made these:
and then today I turned it into this: Now I need to make a hanger for it and then deliver it ASAP!

So cute, I think I will have to make a few more, but they will have to wait for the next rainy day. And I have a few more ideas on the brain just waiting for T-I-M-E. And I have a banana bread in the oven so yup - got my craft on and it feels good!

It was TIME...

.......so we jumped in the car with the dog and headed to the farm. I was filled with anticipation as I hadn't been back since November. I love to discover what is new each time we arrive. What would be in bloom? what did not survive the winter? what critters have trespassed and left behind their story? All these questions were soon answered when we arrived in Appomattox. The blooms were beautiful. The trees were still bare and the landscape was somewhat bleak but the trees that were budding stood out and drew attention. Apples, pears and various flowering bushes all had buds and even some blossoms. The jonquils bloomed along the edge of the woods, inviting you to walk beside and explore further.

The creek is always full in the winter and spring so we walked along and listened to the water as it meandered its way along the property lines. Evidence of critters was plentiful. Turkey feathers lay in our path along with distinct markings from deer. And obviously a family of mice had again made themselves at home in our trailer. I left them ample warning that next time I return they are history and the place will once again be mine.
My trusty camera came along, of course, and I was delighted to walk through the woods and finish my alphabet project. I am happy to say that I now have A-Z finished in photographs and fun projects ready in my craft room. I'll showcase some of them soon. All too soon darkness crept in on us, followed by a thunder storm, so once that settled we headed home, talking of plans for the garden and goals for projects on the property this summer. Another year has begun...

I need beauty...

I know! I know! How many of these candle thingys can I post? But what you don't understand is how beautiful they are up close and how they speak to my soul. I find them so peaceful, so calming. And this wood was particularly charming with its sharp contrast and ridged bark. It smells good and feels good in my hand so on a dreary day when my heart is even darker I like to light my candle and escape in my imagination to the farm to walk in the woods. It certainly helps to craft things from the woods and it makes it even brighter when I have a large order waiting for them. Appreciate the simple things and enjoy the creativity of The Maker.

Top: shows a 2, 4, and 6 inch oak candle holder
Bottom: closeup of contrast and bark ridges

crafty farm girl

It was my mother's birthday this past weekend and she had ordered a set of thank you cards so I hung on to them a little longer and gave them to her as a gift. Of course she loved them - what mommy doesn't like their little girl's artsy projects? I was happy with them myself so made a few more sets. Now if only I had the diligence to get an etsy site up and running. Farmer John has been busy making more candle holders - we have an order to fill by the end of March. And we are itching to head down to the farm this weekend - just to check on things but who knows what treasure we will find - either in photo or "for real." I promise to show you next week!

HOPE

I like to call this hope! Hope that spring is right around the corner. Hope that soon the snow will be all gone. Hope that the rest of my bulbs are strong enough to push the mulch off the top and burst into the yard to delight my visual senses.

Keep working little bulbs - I have great hope for you!

Treats for my Sweets

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and with my goal to spend no money on gifts I knew the way to my lover's heart was through his tummy. Who am I kidding? We haven't exchanged Valentine's gifts in years. In fact the other day, number one son asked how often dad bought me jewelry. My answer - "Totally random, never when expected and always a surprise!" Like the Valentine's day 10 years ago when he gave me a beautiful "real" diamond heart necklace. I remember gasping when I later saw the receipt. "Really, for me" he did this for me! so yah - never expected, always a surprise....it obviously works for us :) And definitely no jewelry for Valentine's Day since.
Well this is not a budget year for diamonds so he is getting sweet treats! I recently tasted an awesome lemon cake that someone had brought into work and I knew this would be the treat for him. His tastes seem to run a bit to the unusual (lemon, rhubarb, coconut, need I say more) so when the kids were home he often got left out of "favorites." They tend to take after their mother - chocolate, chocolate and chocolate although I do like rhubarb and coconut too. Anyway, now that it is just US I try to think more about what he would like so I got the recipe and made the VERY LEMONY cake with very lemony glaze. I made mini cupcakes so he could just pop bites of goodness into his mouth but also made a loaf cake which in reality is better - more cakey - so I will remember that for next time. Then my other Valentine lives across the street and is four so I knew I had to make something that would make his eyes smile and his happy little laugh cackle and drive his mother crazy with the sugar high so I made cake balls. Chocolate fudge cake balls with white chocolate icing and candy heart sprinkles - oh boy! Yes I have eaten a few myself. Number one son was home and asked why I choose such labor intensive treats - just taste them I replied. They looked easy when I first saw them but labor intensive is definitely a more adequate description. I made dozens of these for my little Valentine's birthday last year only we put them on lollipop sticks and called them balloons. This year he wants a helium tank for his birthday. You see why he is my Valentine!
So to make a short story long, here is the end product of treats for my sweets. They have been tasted by all - including the dog and pronounced delish! The dog's version of a sugar coma is a long nap which actually sounds like a good plan to me. Happy Valentines Days

It's A Miracle

Remember Mrs. Beasley from a few posts back? and my sweet friend who was sure Aunt Mary could fix her? Well, she ain't pretty but she's fixed. I think if she's not played with too hard she may even have a bit of life in her for a few more years. Yes, I am patting myself on the back - pat pat pat!
And the next project that is finally completed is the linen closet. I am so proud of John Dear and his efforts on my behalf. I wish I had "before" pictures but at least I have a few "after." The closet is painted and the shelves are covered in fabric - the entire project cost $0.00 using

leftover paint and leftover fabric. A big ole' bag of stuff is headed to freecycle - it is amazing what you can find in the recesses of the closet and the stories they will tell. I found perm rods from my high school perms - does anyone even know what those are? and any number of slings and braces from the kids athletic years. A baby hot water bottle from the days of colic and sheets to bed sizes we don't even have anymore. I am even considering cute little tags to label the baskets of sheets so they stay organized. Yes, seriously laughing at myself!
Now I am off to tackle another room, maybe I will allow myself a "before" picture...but then again - maybe not!