Snowflake Fun

 I am so in love with this Snowflake pattern.  I finished this afghan awhile back but haven't posted it until now. I think I haven't. Anyway, here it is.

 Wintery Frosty Goodness.

Up for sale in my shop.

I think I need to use Grey more often, it is just so cozy.

A Try at Photo Transfer

Pinterest inspired me to try my hand at photo transfer and since there is no craft store in town and I don't have the patience to wait for mail order, I used what I had on hand. I read that you should use a laserjet photo to begin with but I have an inkjet printer so that is what I used. I have a gloss glaze medium which worked just fine but I have read you can use Mod Podge. I also used a paint brush, nail file, damp sponge and a piece of glass. 

 I started with a vintage photo of Drew Barrymore's Grandmother silent film star Dolores Costello. She is so pretty. Those eyes are amazing. Basically I just used the paint brush to put a layer of gel gloss on the glass and then lay the photo right side down against the gel. Smooth it out so there aren't any air bubbles, just like Decopauge and let dry overnight.

Once the gel is dry, take your damp sponge and press it against the back of the paper damping the entire photo. Then using your finger just start gently rubbing off the paper. As you rub in circles the paper will come up and leave the image/ ink in the gel medium. You can use the file to sand off the paper on the edges of the glass.

 In the end you have a super cool ghostly image.

 This one came out so neat with the soft pink and yellow flowers. I played around a bit with different backgrounds. First against a beat up wood table. Then against a bright Turquoise table which made her look like a Zombie.

 The Sacred Heart came out fantastic.

 This time with the sun shining through.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

 This one is my current favorite.

 The turquoise, the gold. Love Love Love.

 Now I am thinking I should coat them in gloss which will bring out the color even more but first I need to figure out what I am going to do with them. They will look great in frames but I think I want to drill holes in them and hang them in the window. Next up I want to do one with a landscape photo.

I just need more glass, lucky me I am married to a glazier.

Springtime Shots

 Buster our new Foster Child has learned that Rugby is a snuggly heat source.

 A gorgeous Spring storm.

 Pearl Blue Crocus

 The first blooms of the season.

 Starting Basil inside my sunniest window.

 Buster waiting for Daddy to come home.

Still waiting. So cute.

Square of the Day

Crochet Square of the Day - Daffodil Flower

I found the tutorial here.

Granny Plaid Pie

 I finished a quick little afghan and it is listed for sale in my shop.

Isn't it sweet?

I recently realized I must not like yellow very much. You see my yarn stash has been dwindling down and I soon had a lot of yellow shades and not much else. I guess I don't use yellow very often. So the obvious solution is to whip out a new throw with four shades of yellow and use a new pattern just to make it challenging.

This join as you go pattern, which I love, is a Granny Plaid!

It is making me hungry, it looks like Banana Cream Pie...or maybe Lemon Merengue Pie.

Spring blooms indoors

 

Ahh... green. I love green like Oprah loves bread.

 My little fern struggles to stay alive in this dry climate.

It is doing pretty good this spring.

 

Although the weather outside has been cold and snowy lately

 my Thanksgiving cactus is blooming away!

I can't get enough photos of the light coming through that gorgeous red/Orange color.

 A fresh little bud.

This shot above is my favorite so far this year.

 It just looks so tropical.



Boston Creme Crepe Cake

 

 I made this incredible Boston Crème Crepe Cake

 

So decadent, so good.

 Yep...so yummy.

 

Fun with Paillettes

I made these funky shimmery signs last summer and I am in love with them. I used paillettes and tiny nails so when the wind blows they shake and sparkle.



 

I want to make more but I don't have anymore rotten wood. So I have some old wood out in the back yard currently under several feet of snow hopefully getting all nice and rotten.

I need some good words too. Any ideas?

 



Remember to Wander, Sparkle and Explore and if you find some rotten wood let me know. :0)



Winter Beauty

 

Just a couple pretty little things I noticed this morning.

 

My neighbor has some gorgeous icicles today.

 



One of my geraniums is blooming. It is confused because I have it in a super sunny window. It has no idea it is February.

Apache Tears





 

 I started this afghan on January 1st using this "Apache Tears" pattern https://sarahlondon.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/crochet-apache-tears-free-pattern/

 

 

At first I thought it seemed difficult but it is actually very easy and it only took a couple weeks. 

Isn't it pretty? I am starting another one today.

 

 

This time I am going to use fewer colors to create more contrast.

I can't wait to get started.





Halloween in January

I have started a super fun project today. It is a Halloween project. A costume to be exact.

 

 

I am going to turn this old hand me down denim coat into something Fabulous!

It was a light blue color so I started by dying it a lovely green. You see, someone gave me a garbage bag full of silk (poly) Ivy, that is what started it. Actually I think I have to give Martha Stewart credit for the original idea. She had a leafy costume in one of her Halloween issues many years ago.
 

 

  I just knew I wanted to cover this coat with the leaves off of the ivy but I couldn't decide if I should use Hot Glue to attach them or should I take the time to sew them on by hand? So the project sat and waited... for years, until I cleaned out my craft closet last weekend and found that bag of faux greenery. I just couldn't put it off anymore. I started cutting the leaves off of the vines.

 

 

There are a lot of them. A great pile of leaves.

 

 

Then I sorted them and started sewing them on.

 

 

I think hot glue would be faster but there are a few cons to using hot glue.

#1. I will burn myself. Always do.

#2. Those pesky glue web like threads that end up all over. I hate them.

#3. I am afraid the coat will weigh a ton in the end with all that glue and it might be stiff.

So hand sewing it is.

 

Here is the hem so far. I put the largest leaves along the bottom and it looks a bit like a lacy hem.

 

 

The first row of small leaves around each cuff.

 

 

I am working on the collar tonight and I have big plans for the pockets. This costume doesn't have a cohesive theme yet but it is looking very elf like. Elvish? Like something a Wood Sprite would wear. Yep...I am having a great Halloween in January.

 



Wordless Winter Wonderland

Click on this one 

 

 

 

Photos taken by Kevin Dessert