Americana Pin Keep Swap

I'm still taking naps but was able to participate in Wendy's, @ Ravenwood Whimzies, Pin Keep Swap. I received my package a few days ago from Amy @ Bumblebee Lane. The design was supposed to be Americana  

and Amy did not disappoint. She has a very generous soul and I am so happy to be the recipient of such a lovely Pin Keep! Take a look at these pictures!

 

 

 

Isn't that brilliant!! LOVE how she used another spindle for the flag holder! Her additional goodies were wonderfully received, too! Some delicious smelling Yankee Candles, a Peppermint bar of soap, a cute note pad, and, some delicious vanilla/caramel Tea! I love to swap and Wendy always makes them fun. Thanks, Wendy! You can visit Amy HERE to see what she got from me!

I started painting a bit again. Trying to finish some UFO's that piled up in my bin over the last year.

Everything from School Pencils to Christmas!

I'll still take a break through the Summer but should be back in full swing come August. The twins are graduating from 5th grade this month and so my hands are busy with year-end projects and school parties. They were safety patrols this year and I'm in charge of their Hot Dog BBQ in another week. Piece of cake! Yeah, they'll have some of that, too!!

Hope your Spring has sprung and those nasty storms out there are far from you. We're hitting Summer now with temps at 90 already. At least we had a lovely Spring. Doesn't happen too often in my little corner of Florida!

 



}}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

My Pin Keep Swap!

I'm a bit late getting this posted. Life gets in the way of all of my fun.

I joined in on Wendy's Annual 'Christmas in July' Pin Keep Swap over at Ravenwood Whimzies this past month. I received my Pin Keep over a week ago from Mary!

She's a 'fellow Floridian' and her blog is https://anoldcrowsjourney.wordpress.com/

Stop by her Blog and you can see what I sent her. My camera wasn't working the day I sent it out and my hubby took the pic on his phone. Of course, he didn't give me the photo yet. I forgot to remind him the required 10 times!

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We had a fun time with the 12-13 year olds from our Church. It's also an Annual event here at the Weaver's house! We LOVE having the youth come out. Some of these kids have never enjoyed these sporting events that we take for granted. I've been on or around the water here in Florida all of my life. I can't Water Ski but I've tried it all!!



We had a great day and enjoyed the Sun and it's shine before the storms hit in the afternoon.

I'm a lucky gal to live and play on the Lake!

We're getting over the dregs of a nasty Upper Respiratory Virus. I finally caved in and went to the Docs. A double Ear/Sinus Infection warranted me 10 days of Antibiotic. Orders for School Name Blocks are coming in so I've got to get better.

Hope your Summer has been fun! School starts in a few more weeks. I'll be glad to get back on a routine although I could do without the early morning wake-up calls!

Have a good one!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

 

Sharing a Post!

Hope you had a lovely Easter. I was a little 'under the weather'.

I wanted to share Wendy's post about her Giveaway she received.

http://ravenwoodwhimzies.blogspot.com/2015/04/my-giveaway-win-from-vicky.html

 

Stop by and see what was in the box. No, it wasn't a frog. I just like this guy!

AND, if you're on Facebook, watch out for my FB Giveaway......soon!

Stay tuned!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky

 

Trying again!

Well, I never heard from the winner that was chosen for my 'Spring Giveaway'......

So I'm gonna try it again! WENDY from Ravenwood Whimzies was chosen as the NEW winner of my Spring Giveaway! CONGRATULATIONS! Contact me, Wendy, at Vicweave@aol.com  if you see this before I contact you. I may already have your addy.

https://www.etsy.com/search?q=matgofg

Our OFG Team is at it again! Lots of wonderful Hand Mades in their Etsy shops for our newest celebration, "Anything Goes"! Just click on the link above to see some wonderful creations.

Sadly, I  am not among them. My creations are still half-finished. Just couldn't seem to get my act together. Here are a couple of dolls I'm working on. WARNING: this is a bit X-rated as they're still a bit nekked!

Black Folk Art Dolls. I used a Sweet Meadows Farm pattern. 

These gals haven't even made it out of the pan!

Looks a bit like the Walking Dead. Did you watch the Finale last night? AWESOME!

I won a Supply Giveaway from Brenda of the Rusty Thimble.

It was filled to the top with all kinds of goodies!

 Lovely laces!

 Colored Mohair? Heck yeah, that's right up my alley!

I just washed the 2 pieces of fabric so I can use it on one of my black folk art dolls.

Of course the wood is already 'talking' to me!

Thank you, Brenda! I love being a winner, especially one of yours!

These guys need ears but are going out in the mail this afternoon.

YIKES! IT'S AFTER NOON ALREADY!

Last but not least, here's a picture of our 9 year old daughter at her Piano recital.

 

Look at those long, strong fingers! She is doing GREAT! We are so lucky to have such an awesome Teacher that lives a Hop, Skip, and a Jump away from us!

The kids are on Spring Break this week so I'm taking a break, too. Gorgeous weather here in North Central Florida! I think we'll try for a quick trip to the beach!

Hope your Spring has Sprung! For those of you still experiencing snow, just think how grateful you'll be when warmer weather arrives and stays!

Thanks for stopping by!

}}Hugs{{
Vicky