Tag: craft (page 10 of 10)

October 15, 2009 / 0 Comments

Pumpkin Carving

I have been so involved the last few days with all of my Christmas Fair projects I have almost forgotten it was pumpkin weather. Walking out into a crisp autumn day early this morning, to post a letter, I did remember!

It was the kind of English Autumn day where the sky was silver and the brilliant color palette of the leaves stood sharply against the silvery mist. As fallen leaves squeaked under my feet I started thinking about what I would carve on my pumpkin this year.

I love the “lantern” pumpkins that Country Living has in their latest issue. That would be a great idea for any occasion. I can just imagine having a barn party with “lantern” pumpkins guiding you down the hay bale path to a fun affair, like the Halloween party held in the barn at the end of Summer Magic, I love that movie!

They also showed how to turn mini pumpkins into votive holders. I have done that many times with pumpkins and apples, it is very effective and sets such a sweet tone to your table with leaves and ivy mixed in amongst them. It can also be a less expensive alternative to flowers if you are doing a dinner party on a budget. The votives work as both candle holder and decoration, with some foliage and twigs cut from your backyard or the woods and woven along the table you have an interesting display for not a lot of money.

I did a lot of printmaking in College, so, I loved their “Cinderella” Pumpkin Flower too. The carvings with the wood tools are so beautifully folksy. Or, maybe it is just that this orange pumpkin is contrasted against a pink background and I love PINK!

What are you carving on your pumpkins? Click here to go to the Country Living website for templates to create the pumpkin “lanterns”.

(All images used copyright Country Living)

October 14, 2009 / 0 Comments

Gingerbread & Rolls of Ribbon

Yesterday, I finished baking all my gingerbread wreaths. Now they will just have to be varnished and have gingham ribbon strung through their little adjoining arms. With my leftover dough, I cut out little ornaments, to attach to my “Christmas Packaging” for the Fair. Presentation is everything, it makes even the smallest item look lovely.

I also organized my ribbons yesterday to make it easier to cut for my garlands. One of the places that I purchase ribbon has no rolling system, so they bundle up your items that you have spent ages pondering over and oohing and aahing, with one swoop and dump them unceremoniously in a bag. I don’t like being in the middle of a project and then having to stop to untangle knots in my ribbon.

In telling this story to my Mom, she asked if I had any toilet paper rolls in my recycling bag? After replying with a yes, she told me to use that to wrap my ribbon on. What a fantastic idea! Sometimes you just can’t see the forest for the trees. So, into my recycle bag I dove and came out with a paper towel roll.

Like a kindergartner I happily sat on my couch yesterday with the scent of baking cinnamony Christmas dough in the air and the crooning voice of Ella Fitzgerald, inviting me out for a sleigh ride and wrapped ribbon around my newfound holder. I love being organized (in my small cottage you have to be) and a great way to make use of something I was going to throw out, it just makes me happy.

(My treasured ribbon next to my sewing house that my adorable husband gave me for Christmas one year, he is such a cutie!)

October 12, 2009 / 0 Comments

Getting Ready for the Fair

Well, with a sharp rap at the door, my felt arrived this morning and this weekend I was busy gathering ribbons, jingle bells, fabric scraps and making my plan of attack to get everything done on time.

I still have one more roll of ribbon to order for my gingerbread men wreaths. They are in the oven as I write and the house is filled with the scent of spicy cinnamon, it is wonderful. I have Christmas music playing in my kitchen, because you can only create true gingerbread wreaths with the sounds of the season going through your head as you roll and cut and lay out.

I will hopefully be cutting my bears out today and working on a mitten pattern for a garland so I will busy, busy, busy. I have so much to get done and not a lot of time, but I work well under pressure and I love a challenge.

Well, my timer has just beeped to let me know that another batch of wreaths are ready to come out of the oven, so I am twirling off to gingerbread men, Christmas music, and visions of sugarplum fairies dancing in my head…this little peppermint fairy just really puts me in a jolly Christmassy mood, doesn’t she make you happy too?

(Peppermint Fairy by WeeWonderfuls)

October 9, 2009 / 0 Comments

Happiness Is….

After a week of dealing with boiler problems, gas leaks, and workman, happiness is: a gingerbread latte, curling up on the couch with the new Martha Stewart Magazine October issue, that my adorable husband surprised me with last night for having to put up with a crazy house all week and listening to the Fleet Foxes. I tell you, it doesn’t take much to make me happy, just the simple things.

If the whimsical cover doesn’t make you want to smile with all the “mushroom” gourds, I don’t know what will! I love her Halloween candy bag idea with the Chinese “jack-‘o-” lanterns, too cute!

(All Images copyright Martha Stewart Living)

October 6, 2009 / 0 Comments

To the Christmas Fair we go…

Over the river and through the woods to the Christmas Fair we go… I just received my form today for the Fair, so I am going to fill it out now to be sure a spot is held for me.

The fair will be held this year on November 6th. So, 4 short weeks from today, I better be ready. I am getting all my ideas together and I will be ordering my supplies tomorrow and then working like an elf to get everything done on time.

I have so many ideas, but I am going to narrow it down to just a few things to have on my table, and focus on those. My little tooth bears will be making an appearance and some will most likely be dressed for the season, ’tis the season to be jolly, as they say! I will have to start making my gingerbread wreaths soon, oh so much to do, but what fun it is!

I can’t wait, for a crackling fire, warm tea, cozy things, homespun love and to be surrounded by friends. I can’t think of a better way to get November started.

September 22, 2009 / 0 Comments

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho off to RosaBlue we go…

Well, I don’t know if you remember but after the Summer Fair in June, I had a lovely store owner ask me if I would make tooth bears for her(see post 6/14/2009).

I did and they all sold! So, here is the second wave of bears getting ready to go out the door to her gorgeous shop! They were all trying to peek out of the box when I took their picture.

I hope they all go to happy homes and have lots of Tooth Fairy visits.

Look below at the gorgeous store that my bears will live in before they go off to new homes.

RosaBlue

May 27, 2009 / 0 Comments

Yo-Yos

The days seem to be ticking by faster than I want them to, as I still feel like I have so much left to do for the Fair. This year is going to be very exciting, it sounds like there will be a very good crowd of people coming and an even more diverse range of stalls.

One of the projects I have been busy working away on involves making yo-yos. I was never a fan of them before but after seeing them in a magazine, they somehow began to grow on me. Now, I seem to notice them everywhere. The possibilities of what you can make with them are endless.

My mind has been buzzing non-stop with ideas which led to the creation of one of my main Fair projects; a collaborative concept formulated by my Mom and I. I had so many notions, some of which have come into being however some will just have to wait until the Christmas Fair.

Knowing that November seems forever away until the Christmas Fair, when we will all be together again, but this time, in the coziness of an inviting house, with a crackling fire, Christmas trees adorning every free space and a coming together of friends old and new to have fun and raise money for a worthwhile charity along the way.

Like the March girls we gather, shaking the snow off our boots and heading for the kitchen, where a kettle is always boiling on top of the Aga. We gather to share ideas, celebrate each others company, love and cozy warmth.

May 20, 2009 / 0 Comments

Teeth & Fairies & Bears, Oh My!

I have been quite the busy bee at the moment working on banners and embellishing bags and items for the fair. June is almost upon us, so I do not have long before everything must be done. One of the projects I have made is a variation on a pattern I found on Martha Stewart. They are these adorable “Tooth Bears”.

The little bear is made out of felt with a pocket in the front to place your little one’s tooth in to await a visit from the Tooth Fairy. Martha embroidered the child’s name on her bears, but I have decided to simply put “tooth” across their little pockets. I have also changed the suggested stitch you were to use and I have slightly varied their faces.

They were a fun project to create; they are all different, each with their own little personality coming through. So, hopefully my little bears will speak to the right person at the fair and they will all go to lovely new homes, as they were made to support a charitable cause.

I have included the link from Martha Stewart where you will be able to find more information to make your own Tooth Bear (with the pattern template) for your little person or a friend.

Martha Stewart Show

Please note this template is copyright to Martha Stewart Living.