Embroider a Jaunty Crow

This jaunty little crow is speedy to whip up. I made a few versions- on the little ones I used iron on fusible web to attach the little plaid wing- on the larger ones I actually stitched on the applique. His inspiration is somewhere on the web- there are so many birdie crafts out there- I'm not sure what started me working on this exact project- but thanks to all for the inspiration!

Recent Thrifting

A few weeks ago dear hubby made a special call to let me know about the upcoming Texas Size Yard Sale-Yes, yes, yes! Last year I missed it. I was traumatized.

This sale is held in a building about the size of WalMart and the prices are incredible. Everything is donated and the proceeds go to fund meals on wheels (a charity that takes meals to home bound folks).

I was hoping for a serger and since I was the second person in line (yes, I was there 2 HOURS early). I was the first one into the sewing area. But alas, they did not have one this year... I still came home with a few deals though. A juicer for $3 that we have tested on carrots and it works! An American Harvest Food Dehydrator (new for about $140). My cost: $5. These are great for making jerky in! And the big winner- because we really needed it: A gas edger- for our lawn- new about $200. My cost: $40. Our yard has never looked so good!

Can't wait 'til next year!

Product Review, Scent Diffusers

I stopped by my local Bath and Body Works and they were having a great sale on these home fragrance scent diffusers- I purchased four. Over the past several months I have tried sweet pea, cherry blossom, cinnamon and cinnamon & clove buds.

I have mixed feelings. I LOVE the scents, they really smell wonderful- but the smell is so strong that for the first four weeks I have to banish them to a back room and they still nearly knock me over!

Oh, and hide them behind furniture because if kids pull them out and tip them over the liquid spills everywhere. Next time you are in their store at least stop and get a whiff- then you'll be able to decide if they are right for you.

Halloween Flick

Alrighty, if you are a Jane Austen, BBC, fan and you hate gory scary stories you might want to watch the 1983 BBC mini series of Jane Eyre this Halloween. It has a little mystery mixed in with the romance and a woman who triumphs over adversity and temptation.

This version stars Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clarke. There are eleven episodes- so set aside a couple of evenings or an all day marathon. I watched it through Netflix on demand. I give it five stars.

Great Day

I woke up this morning to cool perfection- just right for snuggling under the covers. Now big fat raindrops are plopping all over my world- it sounds great and it smells damp and wonderful. Don't you just love the secure feeling of home, a warm cocoon, when it is stormy outside?! Blessings abound -my husband has a job to go to- the car starts- and Christmas music plays on the radio. Brown sugar oatmeal for breakfast and delicious left over hamburger soup for lunch- life is good.

A Halloween Flashback- last year's Halloween tree that sometimes looks black and glittery and sometimes looks silver-


Hope your day is full of love and blessings, too!

Halloween Twig Tree

I may be the last one to make one of these, but here is my version of the twig tree.

After beating the pine tree out front with a broom handle (Don't feel bad for the tree- it retaliated by showering me with sappy dusty tree bits)! I gathered up a few branches. My tree must be genetically challenged because it didn't provide me with anything perfectly symmetrical!

Anyways, I had to duct tape together three sticks and it still is lopsided- but don't look at that. Instead of using generic black I spray painted mine with Krylon's oil rubbed bronze metallic paint- I really like how that looks! Then I used a package of small pumpkins from Hobby Lobby ($2) and these left over charms from last years project and stuck them in a thrift store vase that I painted black.

I finished it off with dollar tree ribbon. So, for three dollars and some leftovers I have my twig tree.

Personalizing your Pandora Music Station

I'm listening to Christmas music- are you?

Here are some tips for using your free Pandora music station for Christmas:

Go to Pandora and sign in. Do a search for Christmas stations and select "Best Christmas Songs EVER". Then start giving the thumbs up or down on the songs played. Rename the station, "My best Christmas songs EVER". Pandora says that if you are very picky about giving a thumbs up it helps them get your station right.

To further personalize it I went to the "create station box" on the left and clicked on my station. An orange box appeared. I selected "add variety". Then I typed in various artists that I like. When the artist's name appeared in the drop down list I made sure to check their name with the word "holiday" after it.

Some of the artists I selected: Burl Ives, Gene Autry, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Perry Como, The Kings Singers, Josh Groban, Andy Williams, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby. You can also enter songs titles that you really like.

If they are not playing the songs that you enjoy. Give them a thumbs down and don't give up. Keep Trying. It seems like sometimes they play all songs that I love, and other times they aren't even close.

Assembling Your Own Block Set

My five year old son is fascinated by all things small. His very favorite toys are the tiny soldiers that come with the Risk game. A friend has an ERZGEBIRGE block set that she got at Tuesday Morning for $20. It is very nice quality (except the windows could break easily). Oh, and be forewarned- you'll never get all of the blocks back into the cute wood box. You'll have to come up with another storage option :o) This would make a nice Christmas gift.


They have some fun sets- one to build a castle, etc. My little guy loves to play with it. He used some fun money from grandma and purchased their domestic living set (has windows, etc.) His favorite part of the set are the tiny one inch cubes. We picked up a few more of these at Hobby Lobby in the wood craft section.

If you can't find this German set you may want to make your own set by purchasing a variety of wood shapes and turnings. An online source is here. Etsy has some nice block sets as well. This one, Little Sapling Toys, popped out at me.If you make your own set please be careful and make sure your tiny block set will only be used by those children well past the "put everything in my mouth" stage.

Easy Velcro Belt for School Uniforms

My little guy is required to wear a uniform to school each day and his uniform includes a mandatory belt. Sadly, he can't seem to be able to get his belt off when he is in a hurry. Not fun for him! Not fun for me!

Out of necessity I whipped up this little Velcro number.


I grabbed a yard of this belt stuff from the fabric store- it is usually right by the buckles. Used some old Velcro I had ripped out of something and saved. Adjusted the length of the belt to his waistline and just sewed on the Velcro. If your school requires a buckle- just sew one in place- not functioning- just there- so that your little one can use their easy peasy belt.

My heart did a happy dance when he jumped out of the car for school this morning and the teacher noticed his belt- he had a huge smile on his face! Don't you just love it when you receive a "good mommy" pat on the back?!

What I Use It For

I know many people store their addresses electronically but since I am somewhat technically challenged that could be risky for me. You know, hit one wrong button and ten hours of typing is sucked into a cyberspace black hole! Instead, I have a handy dandy recipe box- it's my address "book".

I write my friends' names, addresses and phone numbers on a 3x5 card and file them alphabetically with the letter tabs you can get at any office supply store. Then if someone moves I just flip the card over and write the new address on the back- if they move again they get a new card.

It's easy to trash old cards from those I have lost contact with- the ones that moved across town and figuratively speaking dropped off the edge of the earth.

The recipe box method stays much neater then the traditional address book- all scribbled in and pages erased until the paper is worn thin, etc. Just a tip:0)

The cute box pictured and the alphabet cards can be found at Amazon.

10/24/2009- This idea is just like the old roladex office address thingies-I guess sometimes I prefer the old over the new ;o)

Halloween Crafts

This label is one of many cute ones that Love Manor has shared.
Love Manor has tons of Halloween ideas- some too spooky for me- but some candy jar labels that I adore!

A few more fun crafts:

Super Cute Garland here.

Adorable stuffed mummy and skeleton's are here.

Boo pumpkins from Star Cat,(via flickr) are here.

Tinybeardk shares some more Halloween labels here, (via flickr)

Cute printable to add to your hubby's hot beverage at living locurto.

Loverly ornaments for a Halloween Twig Tree at cluck, cluck,sew

Give Away

Wow, I just found out my awesome and amazing niece has opened an etsy shop and is having a give away that ends TONIGHT. The give away is being hosted at joys of home. Karli has a much cuter version of the above pumpkins and LOVELY Christmas stockings. Her site is here at Karli's Korner.

Halloween Candy Labels

I've seen lot's of versions of candy labels on the web. I was having a hard time coming up with candies to match the labels. So, I decided to come up with my own, which probably uses a combination of ideas from here and there- if you recognize something let me know and I'll give due credit! Here they are.


As you may have noticed after I took the picture of the jars I touched up a few of the labels. I should have used Peanut butter whoppers for the squashed pumpkin candies. Instead I used the Vanilla Yogurt Orange Dreamsicle candy from WalMart's candy section. These looked really cool- but they don't taste very good- just tellin 'ya. I found the cute jars on sale at my thrift store.

I used these candies:

Dracula’s Drops- red hots
Smashed Pumpkin- Peanut Butter Whoppers
Dragon’s teeth- candy corn, regular and chocolate
Frog Juice- Green Kool-aid, or water with green food coloring

Monster Munchies- Halloween colored m&m’s (or peanut covered)
Bat Droppings- Chocolate covered raisins
Dusty eyes- yogurt covered nuts
Rat’s Tails- Thin, black licorice, I can’t think of their real name,
cut into shorter pieces

Hope this helps someone. Have fun!

Options

I think that I'll be posting a little less and spending more time being a mom and wife. I still plan on posting once or twice each week- I hope you'll keep stopping by!

Halloween Cross Stitch Sampler

Here is a little Halloween Cross Stitch Sampler. The free pattern is here.