Handmade Christmas Recap 2

A selection of things I made for friends and family this past Christmas.

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I only made the truck stencil, Ethan made the rest

The silhouettes were really easy and turned out great. Not sure why, yet again I sewed so many things when I hate sewing! I really like the look of hand sewn things. I think the coolest gift I made, was for Ethan, but I can't show it yet.

I have to fix it...oops!

Handmade Christmas Recap 1

Every year each of us in the household make a gift for each other. It doesn't need to be fancy or complicated, just a thoughtful gesture. As an example, Emma make her dad chocolate chip cookies. Ethan made a sign for his dad to put in the garage. I'll post later what I made but for now here is what my family made for me.

Ethan made me a Bat House with a cool wood burned bat design to hang outside in the spring


Emma made me a walnut Squirrel shaped Oven Rack Puller
(which is currently running across the kitchen chalkboard avoiding the monster! Run Squirrel!)


Mike made me a floor lamp to put next to my favorite chair.

Years ago I bought the cool wood surveyors tripod really cheap. It sat in the basement, waiting to be used. He turned it into an awesome floor lamp! I love all of my gifts!

Independance Day

Beginning of our small town parade.
Happy 4th everyone!

Mummies of the World and MPM

On Saturday we drove to Milwaukee to the Milwaukee Public Museum to see
the Mummies of the World exhibit.

I love this museum... worth the drive!
If you are interested in mummies the exhibit is worth seeing
but as Ethan said "It is really good, but quite disturbing"
No photos allowed but if you want to see examples go to the above link.

walking down the streets of old Milwaukee



butterflies!!!!


can Emma decode it????

Merry Christmas!!!

Playing with my iPod

Something Wicked This Way Comes? no just the kids!

I really do love Halloween!

Boo!

Coated pretzel rods for treats!

Getting Ready for Halloween

rows and rows of Wisconsin corn

Halloween is almost here! Yay!

We did a bit of decorating but not too much. I never seem to have the time. We went through a corn maze the other weekend, which was terrific. Believe it or not, I've never been in one. It was so much fun, Mike and I went back the other night for the Haunted Maze walk. An interesting way to spend our 18 year anniversary, but it works for us. *grins*

Right now is crunch time for costumes. Ethan needs his ready for school Wednesday and I'd like to dress up when I volunteer. Emma doesn't need hers until Sunday. Ethan's costume is pretty easy, a scientist. Kind of a Dr Doofenshmirtz from Disney's Phineas and Ferb mixed with the generic view of scientist...ya know white lab coat, black gloves, goggles, etc...


Emma wanted to be a witch again, but in an updated urban style. We're working on a black t-shirt with strips of torn fabrics sewn to make a skirt, over leggings, funky socks and boots. Right now I'm pulling out misc. fabric scraps. Kids don't have school Thursday and Friday, so maybe she can help me sew it all "just right".


My costume is Steampunk inspired. I'm not dressing as anyone specific just the look. Something about Steampunk fascinates me. Partly because it is so varied and eclectic. It can be almost anything! Steampunk can be interpreted as straight Victorian England, British colonies abroad, US east coast, US wild west, Asian, goth, pirate rogue, or something completely fictional.


Looking online can be overwhelming, so much Steampunk eye candy! I was thinking of a "what if Katherine Hepburn was a forward looking Steampunk gal in Victorian times?" Corsets are cool and fun but not really my thing.

I don't want anything to flashy and skimpy, in Wisconsin Halloween can be cold! So I'm thinking of going more safari, adventuring, Tomb Raider type Steampunk.

The spats are awesome but look at these boots!

I want to wear pants but I like the idea of a bustle type skirt over them.

This collar is just beautiful and nice and warm.

Perfect belt to hold my "gear" LOL

This Steampunk Princess Leia is pretty fun if I wanted to go sexy...too bad I'm not that thin anymore! OK I was never actual THAT thin ;-)

I think I'm having more fun searching the web than I will wearing the costume. how in the world will I describe it to rural Wisconsin masses??? Most people I know would know what Steampunk is.

So far for my costume I have a white shirt with a ruffled collar and cuffs I got today at a local thrift store. I also found a brown vest and pinstripe pants. I really wanted to sew a waistcoat out of this great burgundy vintage fabric I have, but I'm running out of time! I have a pair of lace up granny boots but I also found a fab pair of brown Dr Martens for 5$! They fit perfect and I love them!

Maybe the Dr Martens with spats???? Maybe I can make spats from the burgundy fabric? Emma has a pocket watch on a chain with a steam engine on it. It is perfect and honestly, I have no idea where she got it??? I also have a great brown corduroy hat that a friend made me. Her shop on etsy is here. And you can see a similar hat. I'm still thinking and planning...besides isn't this the best part of Halloween, the planning?

Click on any photo to to go the appropriate websites.

First Day of School

I hate September 1st! I love having the kids home all summer and First Day of School is a sad day for me. But hopefully they are having a good time with their new teachers, new classes etc..
How do I spend First Day? I had breakfast with a friend whose son started kindergarten...boy do I remember that day! Hard to say good-bye and see them go, but at the same time it is terrific for the child.
I also got to shave my cat, yes I had to shave my cat! My kitty, Oscar is sick and cannot walk right now. He may get over this or not, but in the mean time I want him to be comfortable. Since he cannot do his business in the litter box, I shaved his fur and put a diaper on him. He was actually fairly cooperative. Now he is resting on the back of the couch, looking out the window. Poor guy is just over a year old and has a heart problem that causes blood clots. A clot is why he cannot walk. We're hoping the meds will break up the clot and give him more time.
Now I'm off to make and can spaghetti sauce....yummy!

Green Lake Fine Art Fair

As you can see we weren't really busy.
It did pick up later but I still had a disappointing weekend.
Getting stung on the finger (my whole hand ended up swollen) didn't help! ugh!
What a beautiful day.

Emma really enjoyed spending the day by the water.

Duckies!

A couple mini mixed media houses I've been playing with.

This was my last scheduled sale of the year. Now I'm going to concentrate on
other venues and projects.