I'm A Doing!!!

Putting up Christmas and packing my crafts away.....that's what I'm doing! I'll close my Etsy for vacation at the end of this week to give me some time to finish some personal crafts. I've been filling Teacher orders and just put 8 out today! 

I've (sort of) hired a little helper. 

She loves to 'grundge' up my dolls and I've even got her base coating my wood. Here she is coating a snowman with cinnamon!

Here is a picture of my FB Mystery Prize. 

Not many signed up -- due to the onslaught of the holiday chaos, I'm sure -- but someone was a winner and it was Barb of Barb's Heartstrokes! I call them my 'Snowpal Pails'! You can find the little pails everywhere! Target even has some wrapped in Burlap with a Christmas tree stenciled on it. I just added a Prim Snowman with some pipberry arms. He's got a dowel stuck in an uncomfortable place and he's glued into some floral foam. I've added floral pieces and fiber fill all around the inside of the pail. Cute for quick gifts!

Here is a picture of my Elf dolls. I'll have these available in a show I'm doing next year.

My Sister-in-Law talked me out of one at Thanksgiving but she couldn't have if I didn't love her so much!

These guys were adapted from a pattern by The Olde Country Cupboard.

Last, but not least, I've been making these girls up for gifts. 

They still have some details like whiskers and tails but they're almost ready to gift! LOVE making these as they are super simple. The pattern is from Old Road Primitives.

I'm almost done with the Christmas shopping. My house will be FULL with all 6 kids this year! Looking forward to all of our festivities. Hope you have lots planned, too!

}}Hugs{{

Vicky

Feeling Some Fall!

Well, I seem to have regained my breath back! Taking a break is always restorative, and although I would've loved to have sat around this past week, I was busy carting our handicapped daughter to her doc appointments.

I forgot to share with you my Giveaway win from Barb of Barb's Heartstrokes! 

This is wonderful! Barb's work is FANTASTIC and I really love the rustic frame! I've had SO much fun getting to know Barb and have actually talked with her on the phone! I think she thought she was talking to a cast member of Hee Haw!! Yep, I've that country 'twang' down pat!!

The last of my Halloween has been finished. I have a doll I'm working on today but she'll be the last thing I list. I've got Turkeys and Christmas on my mind now!!

 This is Boo Boo Kitty and her Pumpkin Patch! She's from a pattern by Kim over at ORP!

This is Bo Bo! He's from a pattern by Stacey Mead of the Goode Wife of Washington County!

I'm stuffing the last of my Pumpkins and some meeces to go with them. Think I might surprise a few family members with a little something!

We're finally feeling a drop in the temps down here in our part of Florida. Nice to be in the low 80's and feel the Fall breezes start to blow in! 

My FB Giveaway is still going on and so is our OFG TEAM'S FALL FROLIC!! Links are on my right side bar. I've also got my FALL15 coupon active in my Etsy shop for 15% off everything! Just click on my shop tab on my right side bar!

Stay tuned!

Good things Holiday-ish coming soon!!
}}Hugs{{
Vicky

SUMMERTIME WINNER!

Good morning Blogging Friends!

I've a winner to announce for my SUMMERTIME GIVEAWAY!

It's BARB from Barb's Heartstrokes!!

CONGRATULATION, BARB!!

I've got your addy so I can get this off to you in the mail on Monday!

THANK YOU, EVERYONE, for participating in my Summer Giveaway!

I'm taking a break for the month of July. I'll still be painting, sewing, and generally crafting but will do it without the worry of buyers and shipping. This gives me a much needed break before the Holidays are upon us....and that won't be long seeing as we've only another day before we welcome July!!

 Besides, we have to make time for this.....

....and this.....

....and I've GOT to finish this.....

Thanks again for your support! I'll still be blogging!

Stay tuned!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

Are You Chicken? TUTORIAL

I've been wanting to make something like this for a while. On my FB page, I follow a 'chicken lady'. Although this picture is not of her chickens, she does have some similar....and I love to see them!

I was also inspired by an Artist on our OFG Team, Barb of Barb's Heartstrokes!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/44916060/tole-painting-pattern-welcome-chicken

I LOVE whimsy and these were just soooo fun to look at. SO, I came up with these guys!

My whimsical Folk Art Chickens!

I actually drew up this pattern months ago and set it aside.

I checked out on Etsy.com to see if there were any more like mine. 

I found this guy.....

https://www.etsy.com/listing/121187596/hand-carved-rooster-on-split-wood-egg

And this guy.....

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129645231/american-rooster-makedo

Brenda from the Rusty Thimbles is the closest I've seen to mine. Isn't this adorable?!!

I'm going to share my patten with you....and give you a 'walk through' as to how I made them.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3ZH1BVLOI4JNUtfSlRLNXNTNTA/edit?usp=sharing

Hope you can read the pattern. Just click on it and print.

1.Cut 2 pieces out of cotton fabrics for body. Seam allowance is already added. Leave the bottom open for stuffing. 

2. Glue onto bobbin and wrap with sisal or jute around the bottom. Add spots of white craft glue or Hot glue; I used hot glue.

3. Paint the beak area Antique Gold (acrylic paint).

4. Cut out the heart from material of your choice. I used red felt on one and denim from an old pair of jeans on the other 2. Sew with large hand stitches and then glue to the body.

5. Tear strips of fabrics, pieces of raffia, jute, sisal, other fibers. Gather them in your hand and tie in a simple knot. Glue to the tip of the point on his rear. Leave different lengths and widths but not too many. You don't want him to fall over.

6. Now make some smaller strips for his funny little hair do. Hot glue it to the top. OR, cut out the comb from some red felt and hand stitch it. Leave it open at the bottom and glue to the head.

7. I added a strip of homespun at his neck with a spot of glue.

8. Also added a rusty safety pin with a rusted jingle bell.

I had a blast making these. Hope you do, too!
 ****************
Don't forget about my SUMMER GIVEAWAY!

Ends June 29th! Still plenty of time to sign up!
GO HERE for the post!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

Swapping with the Team!

Our Old Farmhouse Gathering Team had a Supply Swap amongst our Team mates. I was able to Swap with a fellow Painter/wood hoarder, Barb of Barb's Heartstrokes. To say she was generous was a TOTAL understatement!! Here's what she sent me!

I'm STILL finding new items!!

Rusted Tin, ribbons, snowflakes, keys, bells, spools, fabrics.....

I've already cut out some bunnies with the floral material!

WHOA! An amazing amount of Jo Sonja's paints!

This lady sure does KNOW me well!

And she went the 'extra mile' by getting the kids a little something!

WOW!

THANK YOU, Barb!! I have MANY uses for all of these items and I appreciate you taking the time to think about me to the extent that you did!

It's been too cold to create much here in North Central Florida. I've been battling Sinus problems and can't seem to find any energy. I've been stuffing some bunnies and making a few skirts for my little girl. Also took some time to finish these today.

These were much easier than the ones I did last year. I used some orange, almost velour-type material instead of the muslin that I painted. The green tops are a green T-shirt cut in strips and tied in the middle. I then saturated them in Fabric stiffener then glued them to the top of the carrots. GOSH, they're just about perfect! That orange is going to make some great pumpkins, too!

Wishing you and yours warmer weather and the promise of a beautiful Easter!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky