PIGGY POUCHES .....

We have a new family member ...... he's patchy, furry, and so darn cute !!! His name is Hercules, and he is Girl Childs new best friend ..... He is a guinea pig !!!

 

 He is still a baby, but just look at that face .... how could anyone resist it ... Yes, he's spoilt - VERY spoilt :-)

 

 I absolutely LOVE this picture of Girl Child and Hercules ....... this picture sums up her personality. No words needed.
We've had guinea pigs before. They were older when we got them, and had only ever slept in their pigloos. We had seen little fleece Piggy Pouches on Etsy, and they looked so snuggly and warm. I have tons of fleece scraps. so I made a pouch for him, just to see whether he'd like it or not. Like it ..... rather he LOVES it !!!
He snuggles right down into it .... so cute !!!
They really are a 10 minute job to make. Two pieces of fabric, sewn together along three  sides. Two pouches made this way. Stuff them into each other, turn the top over double, sew it down, and there you have it.
I decided to use a cotton fabric for the outside pouch - that way, the bedding doesn't stick to it. Fleece on the inside for warmth and snuggability.

Peek a boo !!!

 

Now that we know he like his piggy pouch, I ran him up, another one this morning, while my family were still sleeping. That way we can wash one, and wear one, and he need never be without his pouch :-)

LET'S TALK FUNGI ......

Little red and white polka dotted fungi, to be precise !!!
For me they conjure up images of fairy rings, gnome homes, all things fantasy. They feature strongly in the fairy gardens I replant each Spring too.
My partner and special friend, from the most recent swap I took part in, Val, loves them too. They were on her "Happy List", so I was happy to oblige with a few toadstooly items.

 

 There is an extremely talented lady, who makes lots of these toadstool terrariums, her work is all over Pinterest. I love them, and thought I'd see if I could come up with my own version. I like how it turned out. I bought the basic, el cheapo, salt and pepper shaker set from Target.  I had the little toadstools left over from a project I did last Summer. Getting the Spanish moss and toadstools in there without creating a gluey mess, was a little tricky, but with a little patience it was fine. I used felt to make the toadstool cap. I embedded the lid of the salt shaker into the stuffing of the cap, and glued it in place., so it's all nice and secure. I guess I'll have to make myself on now ..... there's a spare shaker going begging !!!!

 

 A craft tote .... who doesn't need something pretty to carry your latest crafty make around in. Perfect for those spare moments, when you can quickly get a couple of rows done, or a few stitches in. I used my basic tote pattern that I use for all the totes I make. This time, before constructing the tote, I appliqued the toadstool scene onto the front of the bag. I really do love the black stitching around them ...... really makes them pop !!!
Instead of fabric handles this time, I used these bamboo ones. I had them in my stash, from way back when ..... when Walmart closed their fabric department (now it's back again, which makes me quite smiley). These handles were attached with simple fabric loops. I like that they make the tote a little more "fancy".
I lined the tote with that polka dot fabric, you see at the top.

Now any crafter will know, that you need to have your "tools" handy !!! Scissors, tape measures, stitch markers .... you get the picture :-)
Val crochets beautifully so when I found THIS ZIPPERED POUCH on Pinterest, I knew it was the one. Look at that fantastic popper pouch in the front, perfect for holding her crochet hooks !!!
This pattern is a sweet pattern, and the tutorial is very clear and precise. This was a real fun to sew project.

Hope all this toadstool goodness has given you Spring Fever ......we're on Spring Break this week, the weather looks like it's going to be quite idyllic, so once I've completed the indoor Spring Cleaning (not to much more to go), I'll be headed outdoors, to prepare my veggie patch. Get it ready for planting :-)

ZOEY ZOMBIE ....

If you've been visiting my blog for a little while, you'll know that I'm lucky to be part of an incredibly talented group of ladies, who take part in my good friend Val' annual Zombie Doll Swap. She hosts it around Halloween, and it is a bundle of fun !!!
It's been amazing to watch how, as each year passes, these ladies have stretched their creativity ...... there are some amazing creations :-) And our collections are growing.
For me personally, I love that this swap gives me carte blanche to create whatever I want ...... we're talking Zombie Dolls - there is no right or wrong :-) Because of this swap, I've learned many new techniques and tried a number of new products - paper clay being my absolute favorite :-)

So, when Jill, one of our "zombie girls", and a special friend too, celebrated her birthday recently, I wanted to make her a doll to add to her collection. Let me just say at this point ......when it comes to my creations, my kids think I'm a bit odd, and my hubby told me that he couldn't imagine himself ever being excited about receiving something quite so ugly as a birthday gift !!!

Here she is ...... Zoey Zombie !!!!

 

 Her head is made from paper clay molded over a Styrofoam ball ..... I used a smaller ball this time, and quite like the proportions. I spooned out holes for her eyes before covering the ball. I sculpted a nose out of the paper clay too. Her eyes are balls of sculpey. Once her face was dry, and I'd painted and inked it, I glued the eyeballs into the eye sockets.
I crocheted a wig cap .... I just winged it when I did this, trying it on her head frequently, until I was happy with the size and fit. I then tied pieces of yarn and fabric onto the wig cap, until I had a nice full, unruly hairdo !!! The wig was then glued to the head.
Her body was made from fabric. I stuffed her butt with beads (so that she can sit), and then the rest of her body with fiberfil. To try something new, I made her hands and shoes out of sculpey too, and then sewed and glued them into place, once they'd been baked. I think I quite like  how they turned out.
I sewed her a dress ...... She was boxed, and sent on her way.

Another part of this swap that I love (it also stretches the imagination. Not in a creative way, but a literary way), is that some of us write poems to accompany our dolls. This part is probably the hardest part for me ....... I am no poet !!!! That being said, I thought I'd share with you the poem that went with Zoey .... No laughing now .... I warned y'all poetry wasn't my forte :-)

ZOEY ZOMBIE

 

Timid Zoey, is how she was known

Then one night she was woken by a guttural moan.

She was unaware that, that night would seal her fate

Help got to her, far to late.

 

Her eyes are white, and stare blankly

Her appearance is really shocking, quite frankly.

Now she dines on entrails and brains

That leave her face and clothes covered in blood stains.

 

She only has a small appetite

So caring for her, doesn't require much of a fight.

Keep her well fed, she'll be quite delightful

Not at all like other Zombies, who are Oh so frightful !!!

 

But the reason for her visit today ....

Best Wishes for a Wonderful and Happy Birthday.

 

 

Happy Birthday Jill ... I hope the year ahead is full of Love, Laughter and Dreams Come True !!!

 

 



PAPER PIECING .....

I'm sure if you quilt or sew, you've probably heard of paper piecing, or you may have even seen it. It's lovely, but I've always been scared away from it, thinking it was difficult and required a precision I'm not sure I possess.
Then in the Fall, while browsing one of my favorite blogs ..... HenHouse .... I saw some beautiful paper pieced pot holders that Hen had made ... Oh they were sooooo pretty !!! Reading on through the post, she shared with us, the pattern source for these beauties ..... Guess what - I had the book, in my craft book collection.

The author of this book, is another one of my favorite bloggers ..... Pink Penguin !!!
It was meant to be !!! I was meant to make these paper pieced pot holders !!! So with a deep breath, and little expectation of the outcome, I got right to it. Oh was I soooo wrong !!! This paper piecing thing is a breeze .... and precision is not a prerequisite. Before long I had done it ....

 Just look at them .... Amazing !!!

Then I started thinking about the possibility of creating a quilt out of these ..... it would require that I make each paper pieced piece into a square. So I started playing around, and without too much trouble, I created squares. Now every cook needs matching goodies, so I used the squares to create a pocket, that became part of an apron.

There will be a lot more paper piecing in my future I think ...... I  REALLY do quite fancy the quilt idea !!!

DOTTY CROCHET HOOKS ...

Does anyone elses hand ever hurt when they crochet .... I mean REALLY hurt !!! Doing a quick Google search revealed that I'm not alone in this one .... Whew, I was worried there for a moment .... thoughts of arthritic hands or Carpel Tunnel Syndrome popped into my head .... surely I'm too young for all of that still (or maybe I'm in denial :-) !!!!

There were a multitude of solutions offered up to help with this - the main idea seemed to be, that the diameter of your hook needs to be made bigger, so you're not holding such a thin little piece of metal, wood etc ... Oh, anything for a crafty solution, and I found one !!!

Yes, you got it ...... Sculpey !!! Man, that stuff is so useful for so many things :-) They really were quick, economical and easy to make. I rolled my Sculpey into a sausage shape, and then I carefully pushed (more like wiggled), my crochet hook down into the center of the Sculpey sausage. I trimmed the top of the sausage with an xacto knife, to neaten it up. I flattened out the bottom of the hook, and once it was baked, stamped the hook size onto it using Staz On ink and my mini alphabet stamps. To make the polka dots, I spaced little (and I mean VERY little) blobs of white Sculpey over the sausage, and rolled the hook on a flat surface. This flattens the clay blobs and turns them into polka dots. Into the oven they went (275 Deg F for 15 mins). Once they had baked and cooled, I gave them a coat of varnish .... Voila - crochet hooks that no longer hurt my hands when I crochet !!!!
Gotta LOVE a crafty solution !!!

NEEDFUL THINGS SWAP ...

Oh my goodness ..... looking back at my list of Needful Things, I've surprised myself. The little things that make me tick, that I've never given much thought too ...... until now that is !!!
So here goes ....

- I need to walk. I try to do 5km's as often as I can. Daily would be my ideal, but sometimes it just doesn't work out that way. It's my time to think, to plan, and to put aside all of life's busyness, and just enjoy being outdoors. As a result of this, my daughter and I now have "Our Thing" .... we take part in 5km Fun Runs (we brisk walk them). We LOVE it :-)

- I need to create .... daily. Whether it's crafty creating (there hasn't been much of that lately), or creating a yummy meal for my family, I need to do it. Most of my sense of purpose comes from seeing happy, smiling, full bellied people around our family dinner table (Dinner together every night is a "have to have" for our family) :-)

- I need to record our family memories. I tend to be a little obsessive about this. I want my children to be able to share their childhoods, with their kiddos some day. While I scrapbook page layouts, I chose to do Project Life this year. I love the simplicity of it, and that it's quick. It also tells the story of not just the big stuff, but the little things too, that make up our daily lives.

 

- I need to put out my growing collection of handmade zombie dolls each Halloween. I need these for so many different reasons. They confirm to me, that I'm part of a VERY talented group of crafters. Making them, stretches my creativity, and forces me to step out of my crafting comfort zone .... I've learned so much through this process. Who can help but smile at those goofy zombie faces ... not me :-)

- I need to wake my kiddos each morning, and tuck them into bed each night. As they get older (they're both teenagers now), these moments have come to mean so much more to me. They don't need me to do it anymore, but they want me to .... that's something very special, and I'm blessed to be their Mom.

 

- I need to make all the cards I send. It just feels so personal to me. I like to think that I can create just THE right card to suit the recipient and the occasion. I was so touched a little while back, when my mother in law told me, that she has kept every card I've ever made her .... that's 20 years of cards !!!

- I need to sleep on pretty pillowcases. Flannel in winter, cotton in summer, and floral if at all possible ..... little pink roses - oh yes !!! It makes me feel feminine. I also love that they're quick to make and don't require much fabric or trim ....... they're an indulgence for me :-)

- I need to replant my Fairy Gardens each Spring. They bring me a ridiculous amount of joy. I love that they're whimsical and cute .... my little bit of fantasy land, right here on my own front porch..

 

- I need to try new recipes often. My recipe folder on Pinterest is bulging !!! I love trying new things .... vegetarian recipes are my current absolute favorite. I've had great success with most of the Pinterest recipes I've tried. I always tell my family, that we'll never know what we're missing out on, if we don't try new things.

 

 

- I need to enter goodies into the Texas State Fair each year. I did this for the first time 3 years ago, and to my surprise won a ribbon ..... I was hooked !!! I've won ribbons each year since then. It's such a feeling of accomplishment ..... and I love the excitement of seeing my items displayed alongside the other winners at the State Fair.

 

 

- I need to always have a book on the go. I don't read for hours everyday, but I do like to read a couple of pages when I have a spare few minutes during the day. I love stories of Amish life .... I admire their dedication to their faith. I could not imagine living without our modern conveniences !!!

 

- I need to have my Quiet Time every morning. Some mornings in our house are madness (like most homes, I'm sure), and I just don't get to it - the difference in my day is noticeable. It's my time to focus, to pray, and to remind myself of what is really important. I'm a worrier and pessimist by nature - this time serves to remind me that God is the one in charge, not me.

 







- I need to use pretty stationary. No ordinary BIC pens for me !!! I use colored pens, decorative tape .... you name it, I use it, at every opportunity, it just makes daily writing so much more pleasurable ..... It's girly too :-)

- I need to wear an apron when I'm doing anything domestic.  Cleaning, cooking, baking ...Yes, I even put on an apron to do the laundry ..... Maybe I was born in the wrong era !!! It just shouts Domestic Diva !!!

- I need to wrap the gifts I give beautifully. I've been known to put as much time into the wrapping of a gift, as I did the making of it. I think that the wrapping is an extension of the gift .... and who doesn't love to, and feel special, when they receive a beautifully wrapped gift !!!

- I need to bake at least a couple of times a week. Baking pushes so many of my "feel good" buttons. Girl Child has taken to sending me sweet text messages from school, asking me to bake her what ever she fancies that day !!! These messages warm my heart .... how could I possibly refuse :-) Hubby and Boy Child have their favorites too - I oblige whenever they're requested !!!

- I need to make special themed Family dinners on days like Valentines Day. We don't celebrate these days in a big way in our home, but I do like to make our dinner a little extraordinary. On these occasions I always serve a special themed dessert (we don't have dessert often normally).

- I need fresh flowers in our home, as often as possible. The just make me smile !!! I love their color, their aroma ..... They make a house into a home. Yesterday I was spoilt rotten ..... Hubby (he knows how to make me feel so special), came home with 3 hyacinth bulbs in vases (they're being grown over water) :-) I just know that in a little while, our house will be filled with their heady aroma.

- I need to be surrounded by handmade items. Nothing makes me more content from my head to my toes, than being surrounded by handmade cushions, crocheted blankets, pretty aprons ... I love the homely, cosy feel they give .... a home full of love !!!

- I need lipbalm .... a girls got to take care of herself after all !!! I can't live without it !!! I have a tube in every room of my house ..... kitchen, lounge, bedroom, bathroom, and yes, in my purse and car. I REALLY hate having dry, chapped lips.

So there you have it, my 20 needs !!!
I can't wait to visit the blogs of my fellow swappers to see what made their lists ...

BAKING BREAD ...

I don't know about y'all, but I've always felt that bread recipes, that call for the use of yeast, should have strips of that yellow caution tape stuck all over them. A kind of warning .... Don't try this unless you're a culinary school graduate !!!
Then,  well over a year ago, I came upon THIS RECIPE, and thought it could be worth a try. I even went as far as buying a dish to bake the bread in (who wouldn't want to own a beautiful, red casserole dish anyway). Then I chickened out !!! Fast forward to this week, when I came upon THIS POST, on Lucy's Attic 24 blog. It was too good to ignore, so I took the plunge last night .....

After resting the bread dough overnight, this is what I awoke to this morning ...... Hmmm, not too convinced about this !!!!
Anyway I pushed on, and plopped my floured ball into my beautiful, red casserole dish :-) Both Lucy and the original recipe used Le Cruselet pots - I don't have any (maybe one day, I'll be lucky enough to own one of those beauties ....... it will be red, of course), but my casserole dish worked just fine.

Lo and behold, this gorgeous loaf of bread appeared ....

I feel like Julia Childs !!! Bring on those yeast recipes !!!!

Breakfast this morning .... just delicious !!! Cherry tomatoes lightly sauted in a little olive oil and some garlic is a real favorite of ours at the moment. I'm eating a lot of it, with just about everything !!!

 

It was easy, dead easy to make. As you can tell from the recipe, it requires very few ingredients. One of THE best things about this bread ..... It contains NO sugar and NO preservatives. When we moved to The States 10 years ago, bread was a big bone of contention in our household .... it was all too sweet. I think I've tried every brand and bread type available in the stores !!! When my Mom and Dad visit, they wont even eat the bread here, because of that sweetness. That problem is now solved, and our bread buying days are over ....... That beautiful, red casserole dish of mine, will be getting a workout, for sure :-)