Happy New Year!

 

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

Before and After!

I got busy with the Holidays and I bet you did, too! Just can't do everything I used to but I still come close!

I wanted to share a few things I received BEFORE Christmas came from some of our awesome blogging friends!

The FAAP Team (Folk Arts And Primitives) had an Ornament Giveaway and I was one of the lucky recipients! I won Bernard from Danice of Homespun Hannah's Blog.

He is so cute! Thank you, Danice!

I also received my Swap package from Amy @ Bumblebee Lane Cottage.

 Everything was packaged so nicely and I was immediately greeted with a handful of peppermint kisses which, of course, I tasted!

 This Santa doll is so cute! I put him in one of my stockings for decorative purposes before the real Santa came.....yes, I did it with care!

 Some Moose Munch and Snowberry tarts! YUMMY for all of my senses!!

 I LOVE hand crocheted dish cloths. I always purchase some at the craft shows I attend. They last a long time!

 This photo does not do justice to this lovely pillow! I just love it!

 Wonderful goodies from Amy of Bumblebee Lane Cottage . Thank you, Amy! You made my Christmas extra special!

This was after Santa came and before he left our home. We still had 2 other families come in the next morning. We were all spoiled! That's what I get for having 6 kids!!!

Sure hope your Christmas was Merry and Bright!

I'm looking forward to a New Year and want to wish Everyone the BEST that 2016 can bring!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

Day 2 - Christmas Blog Hop!

Welcome to my Blog and Wendy @ Ravenwood Whimzies Annual 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop!

I'm honored to be a part of her Christmas Tradition and share a few things with you.

Just in case you missed the 1st Day, you'll want to go to Lecia's Blog HERE. Of course, the best place to start is always at the beginning so make sure you follow along with Wendy HERE.

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TUTORIAL

I've been busy 'crafting' for some time now and am ready to put it all away until next year but first, I'd like to share a NEW Elf with you! I made this one just for the Blog Hop!

 

Ernie the Elfin Make-Do

Supplies needed:

muslin

acrylic paints

large wooden plug

seasonal cotton fabrics

Christmas sock

spindle/spool

2x4 block and piece of dowel

The scan to my computer no longer works so you have to make your own pattern. Look at the photo. Make sure the curve of his cheek is coming out diagonal from the point of his hat. (This is a sheet of cardstock folded in half).

Draw the pattern onto muslin or your choice of fabric.

Sew along the pencil lines leaving the bottom open. 

Stuff the ears first and then go and stitch them up on the machine or by hand. Finish stuffing.

Paint him with a fleshtone acrylic paint. Center the nose with a pencil mark, a little lower than I'm showing here. Brush on some cheeks. Don't be stingy as I love me some cheeks!

Paint your wooden plug the same color flesh and glue to the center place you marked for the nose. Now mark the eyes and mouth. Follow along on the next few posts.

 

Isn't he adorable?!

Now we need to assemble him!

I used a 2x4 block of wood. I painted it with black and then red over that. (Forgot to sand it but I'll get to it.)

I like to take the skinny spools and set them with a small piece of dowel into the block. Otherwise, they don't stand very well by themselves.

Slip the little guy over the spool and sew up the hole underneath.

Take a Christmas sock and cut it in half. Tie up the end with some twine.

Place it over his cone-shaped head.

Trim him up with a collar around his neck (about 18" x 4", gathered).

Glue it to the bottom of his face where you sewed the hole. Gather around his neck. Add some faux fur to his hat and a little embellishment to the top.

I also added a grosgrain bow at his neck. In all different designs, of course! That's what makes him so whimsical and charming! Add a tag....I haven't done that yet either! If you'd like to have a paper pattern of Ernie, just email me at Vicweave@aol.com and I'll send it to you. You can follow along here on this tutorial for instructions.

Enjoy!

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Here's my recipe for my famous "Date Nut Balls'! Mama used to make these for us sometimes but I make them every year. Our oldest daughter makes them now, too! They are soooooo good!

They don't turn out yellow. Just bad lighting!

 

Ingredients 

Yield 50-60 small balls

Recipe can be doubled easily!

       1 egg, well-beaten

        ¹⁄₂ cup butter

       1 cup sugar

      8 ounces pitted dates, chopped

     1 cup pecans, finely chopped

       2 ¹⁄₂ cups Rice Krispies

    1 teaspoon vanilla

 

Directions

 

     In a heavy sauce pan over low heat cook butter, sugar, dates and egg until gooey and thickened. Take off the heat. Add pecans and vanilla. Now add Rice Krispies and mix well. Cool until slightly warm. Form into small balls and roll into powdered sugar. Now, STEP AWAY from the treats, if you can!!!

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We love Christmas! My husband has to be the 'original' Santa Claus! We don't put any gifts under the tree, except the ones from siblings, until Christmas Eve night when all are sleeping! Yes, it's more work for us but SO much fun for the family! And I NEVER know what I'm getting for Christmas......NEVER!!

Thank you Wendy for letting me be a part of your Annual Christmas Blog Hop! I hope you all have enjoyed what I've shared!

Blessings to you and yours this Holiday Season!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

 

 



Just Keep Creating.....

Lots of creating going on in my house! Kids have had school projects and I'm finishing up orders. Hoping to get them all done and out the door so I can shut down by the first weekend of December.

Our OFG Team is still celebration with our 'Wintery Wonderland'.

You can find more info by clicking on the picture on my right sidebar.

Here are some of my recent creations!

 

All of these, Plus more, are available in my Etsy shop.

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Wendy, from Ravenwood Whimzies, is gearing up for a '12 Days of Christmas' Blog Hop.

 I'll be participating in it this year with her and some other very talented ladies! There will be Tutorials, recipes, and Christmas Traditions to hear about so mark your calendars for Dec. 1st. Here's her link to tell you more: http://ravenwoodwhimzies.blogspot.com/2015/11/12-days-of-christmas-blog-hop-coming_17.html

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Back to those orders I go!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

A Busy Month!

October has been a very busy month for me! I'm needing a break and looking forward to December when I take one. I'll be back at the 'saws' again today. I have a couple of Halloween Costumes to put together this week for the family and am finishing up some dolls for the upcoming Holidays and our Team Celebration. Lots of Snowfolks both wood and softies, some Reindeer, and a couple of new dolls.

I went to our McIntosh 1890's Festival on Saturday. It's an annual event that I've attended since High School when we (our band) marched in the parade. A couple of Artists friends that I keep up with on Facebook were there. Samantha from Southern Belle Scentz and The Olde Country Cupboard and Terry Swezey of Gourds and Gifts. Here are some of the purchases I made from their stores.

 Got my first 'Andy' from Samantha! For those of you who knew Sandy Schmidt of The Olde Country Cupboard, that was her Mom. Sandy passed away a few years ago.

 Terry paints beautifully!

 This little girl is for my MIL for a Christmas gift. 

I LOVE Samantha's Tarts. Her shop is Southern Belle Scentz on Etsy.

Terrible photo but I couldn't resist this little guy from Terry's booth! His antlers are wrapped in colored lights. Can't wait to have him set up by my tree!

The Antique store I buy my supplies from was there again as they usually are. Best place to pick up spools and bobbins as most are just a buck or two. He was low on Beehive Bobbins and I had to search hard for the one that I did get.

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I'm working on Christmas now and most crafters are. I know many don't want to see pictures of it now as it's not even past Halloween yet but in the retail business, "the early bird catches the worm"! I had a custom order for a few of these. Pretty and simple and, of course, the photo doesn't do it justice! I'll be ' lettin' her rip' in a few more weeks when our OFG Team starts it's Wintery Celebration so beware!

And with that scary thought, I hope your Hallow's Eve is safe and your Treats are more than your Tricks!

Stay tuned!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

Winner of Boo Boo Kitty Giveaway!

 

I've been out cutting wood again this morning and just about forgot about my Giveaway winner!

I used Random.org to choose my winner and it picked JESSICA from Blessings in the Country!

CONGRATS, Jessica! Please email me at Vicweave@aol.com and give me your address so Boo Boo and his Pumpkin Patch can be on the way to your home!

Thank you, everyone, for your support! I appreciate you taking the time to leave me a comment for this Giveaway. I will have another one soon to help finish out the upcoming Holidays. Gotta do something with all of this inventory I keep generating!

Have a wonderful weekend!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

Meet our OFG Team Captain!

This is a great interview with our OFG Team Captain, Lucy Galgano!

http://creativestewworkshop.com/2015/10/03/meet-the-captain-of-the-old-farmhouse-gathering-team/

 

Don't forget to sign up on the post below this one for my Fall/Halloween Giveaway! Winner announced Oct. 10th!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

Boo Boo Kitty GIVEAWAY!

I haven't had a Giveaway in a while so I thought I'd see if I can find a home for Boo Boo Kitty and his Pumpkin Patch!



This was made using a pattern from Old Road Primitives. Each piece has been cut from cotton muslin, stuffed, painted with acrylic paints and baked in the oven with my Vanilla/Cinnamon/Coffee Prim mix. This set comes with Boo Boo Kitty and 4 pumpkins: 1 large, 1 medium, and 2 smalls. Boo Boo's Hat is made from cotton fabric and has been primmed and baked. It is glued to his left ear and has a bow of raffia and 3 rusted jingle bells glued for extra embellishment. His whiskers are sisal; his eyes are small black buttons. His nose is painted on with acrylic paint. SO CUTE!
Measurements are approx. Kitty 9" x 5"; largest pumpkin, 7" x 6" with the medium and small a few inches in difference,one from the other.
Made in a Smoke Free/Pet Free environment.

If you would like to have him come to your home, then leave me a comment on this post.

If you share, I'll count you 2 times!!
Make sure you leave me a way to contact you, otherwise, I can't count you.

This Giveaway is open for USA participants, only.

I will use Random.org to choose my winner.

Winner will be announced: Saturday, October 10th!

Thanks so much for your support and GOOD LUCK!
}}Hugs{{
Vicky

Being Creative!

I've been playing with a new medium in my spare time! I told you a month or so ago that I was experimenting with Creative Paper Clay and Kwik Wood.

I've seen so many Artists using it to sculpt gourds, wood work, and glass ware that I thought I'd give it a try. Of course, wood is my first choice of material as it's what I'm most comfortable with.

I chose to do a small pin pattern and kept the design very simple and minimal. We're coming into Fall so I HAD to do something for Halloween, right?!

I started with a simple wooden shape cut out of MDF.

I shaped some arms and gave it something to hold.

Added a little bit of acrylic paints to it.

And I have a ghost! Still need to add a few more strokes of paint but really quite simple to do.

I went a bit further and coated the whole wood piece with the clay.

I think I might like this one better once I get it finished!

I even made some Candy with it!

I also tried the Kwik Wood. It's great for sculpting pieces that have broken off of an item. I used it to make this guys face. It stick really well with the aid of water.

This is how he turned out!

 

This is Stanley and is available in my Etsy shop.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/246115795/cat-stanley-black-halloween-fffofg

And I also did this guy.....

I'm thinking not too bad for a first try! So I've got my gourds out and am now playing with a few Snowman and Santa designs. I think I like the Paper Clay better than the Kwik Wood. You have to use water with both as you're molding/sculpting. The Kwik Wood is a bit stickier and I just like the feel of the clay. I remember when I was in 7th grade, our Art Teacher had us using clay and making sculptures. I remember making an Owl. It went to the Art Show and, although I didn't win any ribbons, I was very happy she chose my work. AND, I still have that memory!

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Lots of orders for Fall Garlands are underway. Still have one or two Teacher Name Plates to finish. I've a couple of Turkeys on my 'stuffing' table that I need to get to and then I think I'll play with a couple of Christmas patterns before I call it quits for the year.

Looking forward to some cooler temps. Mother Nature teased us yesterday but we were back at 89 by the end of the day!

Have a great week!

}}Hugs{{

Vicky