Magnets

 I have been wanting to make some magnets for a bulletin board I sent my mom as it only came with a few and as we send her photos she will need more magnets.

But it wasn't until this week that I finally hit on what I wanted to put in them.

I began by hot glueing some round magnets to the back of some root beer bottle caps.

Then I used some Mod Podge to adhere some tiny shells to the inside of the caps.  I happened to have some sand dollars.  

I then sprinkled some micro beads on top to fill in the gaps and cover the glue on the edges which resembled sand.

 They looked pretty good at this point but all the bottle cap charms I had seen had been filled in with a clear glaze, usually this Dimensional Mod Podge.  So I tried a couple but as you can see they did not come out clear.   

Well, maybe you can see.  My camera did not want to focus when I got close so this is the best photos I could get.

I tried another brand of glaze with the same results.  Perhaps I got it too thick but I only put on enough to cover.  In fact with the second one I did not even cover it completely.

All I can figure out is that it was too humid.  The directions say not to use in high humidity.  I think it is pretty dry right now but then I like it humid and I do live on the Gulf Coast...

So Mom will be getting magnets without the glaze.  That's OK.  I think they are OK and I love that they are made completely of things I had on hand.

Is it an addiction if...

I really enjoy many things,

baking

family

animals

sewing

crocheting

quilting

many other fiber arts

crafts of all kinds

gardening.

OK, so I enjoy lots and lots of things.

But I just discovered that I LOVE

homemade butter pecan ice cream!

I can't seem to make it fast enough.  

I want it every time I go into the kitchen.

I found myself making it for breakfast!

So do you think I need help?

Should I join a group?

While you think about that I think I will go into the kitchen...

Anticipating Ghosts

I sometimes wonder if we have lost the art of anticipation with our fast paced, quick result, on demand lives.

I am happy that it lives on in my family.

One of our family traditions is when I make ghost cookies this time of year.

Only this time of year.

My family looks forward to their arrival.

It seems that each year they look forward to it even more eagerly.

So last month I announced that the one who helped me put up my Halloween decorations this year would get the first call when the cookies were done.

I should not have been surprised then when my grandson helped me

 THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

Beginning in October my granddaughter started calling every day to see if I had baked them yet.

She worried her brother would get too many as he is a growing boy!

And just to be on the safe side her brother took to stopping by every few days.

My daughter is staying with me for a few weeks so she was not worried.

Her brother on the other hand began asking me to babysit his little girl more and more frequently and would use that as an excuse to call just to be sure I was available.

Yeah, I wasn't fooled.

As Halloween nears the visits and calls get more frequent.

To the point that I found someone camped out on my couch last night.

OK, I can take the hint. 

Soooooo I stayed up till 2:00 a.m. baking ghost cookies like the ones I posted about here.

It was definitely worth it.

All the anticipation.

Makes them better than they really are.

Don't tell my family though, because they enjoyed every crumb.

Including the new little granddaughter who got her first ghost cookie.

And of course she had to have her own little ghost costume to wear for the occasion.

As this family grows one batch of cookies this popular is simply not going to be enough.

So I imagine I will be baking more in the next week or two!

I suspect this may well be what I am remembered for.

I am OK with that.

Moroccan Hassock Finished

With the seam repaired, it was time to work on stuffing.

My grandson arrived just in time to take over cutting out the foam.

Even though we both expected it to be the perfect filling we agreed it just did not work.

So I ended up filling it with and old pillow and fiberfill.

Worked well, don't you think?

Here is a close-up so you can see the lovely tooling and colored details even though it is well worn.  I just realized that the star around the central camel looks very much like a popular star quilt block.  Now that is interesting.  I wonder if there is a connection or it is just a coincidence.

New Halloween Treat

I just could not resist trying this Halloween treat that I saw somewhere online. 

Did you notice the 'ghost' in the platter?  

That is of course a reflection of the ghost on the spout of the tea pot.

I made a set of them last year as napkin rings but this one just seemed right on my tea pot.

Oh wait I just remembered.  Thank goodness.  My memory is slowing down but still seems to be working!  Hmmm much like the rest of me.   The recipe can be found here.

My grandson taste tested them and assured me they are great.  I think just a bit sweet but love the sweet/salty/touch of chocolate mixture!

Finding my projects

I had another project present itself. 

Yeah, just what I needed!  

As I was sorting at mom's house this summer I ran across a leather hassock I had sent mom and dad many years ago from Morocco.  It is well worn and had a seam that had burst.  (have to wonder if my little brother had something to do with that)

So I had my son bring over his dad's hand thingy for sail making.  I am sure there is a proper name for it.  Can you spot it in the middle of this picture?

I actually only needed it a couple of times to start the needle through as there were existing holes where it had been machine stitched.

Yes, I could have taken it to a cobbler but I had all the tools to fix it by hand and enjoyed sitting on the patio doing so.

I will post photos when I have completed this project.

Bargain!

I like a bargain.  Who doesn't?  I have to confess though that I am really not a garage saler person.  However on rare occasions I will stop.  Glad I did as look what I found...

Still in the package.  6 skeins!  And a color I love.  I have no idea what I will make but with this much yarn I should have a lot to choose from.   By the way, did you notice the sticker price?

Oh yeah!  I am still happy over this one.

Back at Last

I have been absent for months while I took care of family but I am finally beginning to find a few snippets of time.  And here is one of the things I have managed.

I am a beginner with Needle Tatting.  I know that is pretty obvious but I am actually making a little progress.  I am slowly learning and intend to stick with it.  At least I am finding time to work at it.  I have been wanting to do some tatting for a long time and find I enjoy it.  I just have to take time to just tat.  I am used to crocheting while watching TV so it has taken me a bit to adjust to the fact that I have to pay attention to what I am doing because it doesn't just come naturally from years and years of practice.  Maybe someday the tatting will be as easy as the crochet.

Happy Valentine's Day

I enjoy making Valentines just like when we were kids. As my friends and family and I age, more and more are finding themselves single again and so we are revisiting sending these out to each other and not reserving it for our beloved husbands.

How about you? Who do remember this holiday?

Getting ready for Valentine's Day.

But I have a lot going on right now.

So I just threw a little something together.

Have to include chocolate for my sweets.

But since they are all adults now and money is tight, I figured they would appreciate a little extra cash to be able to go out with their girl friends/boy friend.

So I used currency to fold into hearts.

These were quick and easy using a couple bags of candy, pint mason jars, scraps of fabric that I cut into circles using a bowl for a template with curling ribbon and some leftover tags for decoration.

This covers my son, grandson and granddaughter.

I am going to do something else with my daughter but haven't decided exactly what yet.

Oh, and that is one of the new lampshades I made for Valentine's Day although I just haven't had time yet to get out my decorations for Valentine's Day. But then I still have a few days!