Vintage Hankies ~ Crochet Projects Continue

I'm sharing some very special hankies that belonged to my mother.  I am not sure what I will do with them yet.  I know for one idea, I will be using them to decorate around the house and possibly take some camping.

Meet Gus - Surgery Today and Wooden Drapery Ring Christmas Ornaments

This is Gus.  He's about 11 years old.  We went to the humane society to find a kitten or cat, to play with our long time cat Mattie (oldest daughter's cat).  When we got there, I was busy looking at the cats, and my husband disappeared.  I found him in the dog section.  

We walked through, and every dog was barking except Gus.  That was his name at the humane society also.  He just sat in his cage and looked at us.  

I kept thinking, what did someone do to you? I really thought his ability to bark was not there.  He was so quiet and so calm.

Poor Gus, and another dog, had been left out and abandoned by someone.  They just moved out, left the dogs tied up outside, and left them there.  Horrible.

I once wrote on a topic for a Web site on family pets.  You can read the original story about our pets here: http://www.helium.com/items/1754966-our-pets-and-how-they-live-in-harmony.  I do need to update it, but you can read about how we ended up Gus.  

Gus is basically my son's dog.  They spend a lot of time together.  A few years ago my son was playing with his dog's lips and laughing, but felt a lump in his jaw.   Thankfully, for his play time with his dog, we had the lump removed.  Now, my son has found a lump on his leg, which he has been chewing on and biting off hair.  

Today, Gus is having surgery to remove the lump.  We don't know if it's cancerous yet or not.  Gus has been biting it too much to take a sample prior to the surgery.  The good news, is that he'll get his teeth cleaned today also.  That will keep him healthy.

Gus is very much like those dogs you see plopped on the front porch on a hot summer day.  He loves to bathe in the sun, and if we are lucky, we can get him to run around with the other dogs.  

Gus isn't a ball and fetch kind of dog, but once in a while he'll play tug-o-war with a rope, and the other dogs.

We think that Gus may have have been a hunting dog at one time, as he is the only dog (other than Sadie chasing birds) that can catch a gopher.  

We are praying today the Gus recovers quickly from this surgery today.  He's been a huge part of our life here.  He's made us laugh and he's taught the kids to love.

I finished the wooden ring Christmas ornaments.  The complete story is on my S.C.R.A.P. blog:  http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/2012/01/christmas-ornament-using-thrift-store.html

A close up of the quilled holly leaves and berries drying.

I'll admit, I wish I had more of these rings.  These were fun to make.  I am creating two more in pastel colored yarn and will post those when they are finished also. I was lucky to find these rings for $1.00.  I looked on ebay and other places and they sell for much more.

We woke up to frozen pipes in half of the house today.  Good thing we have water on hand (in jugs) to flush toilets.

Busy Bee

This past week has been a looooong week.  We have three celebrations during the week of Christmas - one birthday, the celebration of Christmas, and our wedding anniversary.  I just realized that New Year's Eve is Saturday.

Way back before I got sick with a two month case of bronchitis/sinus and ear infection, I started a birthday surprise (shawl) for my youngest daughter.  I did not have time to finish it.  I was able to finish it yesterday.

I crocheted a pattern I found on the Internet, with a shimmer green yarn.  This was a complicated pattern for me, so crochet experts (after taking a very close look) may give me a bad grade.  However, my daughter loves it, and it's one more project completed.

I am also busy making more truffle mold ornaments for gifting and for the kids.  Each one will have an ornament with a photo of their animal(s) in each one.  When these are completed, I will box the rest up for Christmas 2012.

In my quest to get back in shape (after my husband's sister almost passed away and I got sick two times), I have been able to drop 10 pounds.  That part is easy.....it's the rest that will take time.  However, I am ready to shed it and get in shape and be more energetic.

Today, I hope to work on my loooong list of unfinished projects.  And exercise of course.

More Truffle Mold Ornaments

Truffle Mold Ornaments

A while back, I purchased a bag of truffle molds at goodwill, for about $2.00.  I can't remember if I got them half off that day.

I cut photos from magazines and used printed photos to create a few ornaments already.  I did not just outline the photo with glitter, but went a bit further out with it.  I simply used glitter from Hobby Lobby.

These were fun to make, and have helped me clear out my closed of unfinished projects.

Merry Christmas!

Organizing Gifts for Christmas 2012

If you follow my blog, you know I am a journal junkie.  Now is the time for me to drag out my craft journal.

Years ago, I bought this "Crafty Gals" organizer/journal at a Christian bookstore.  Gosh, that must have been over 5-6 years ago.

And Even More ~ Handmade Christmas Ornaments ~ A Tour of Years of Ornament Making

Recycled Christmas Cards with crocheted edges.

 I found these small cowboy hats at a store called Hobby Lobby.  I'm not sure if you can buy them there anymore.  For these I glued tiny red and green plastic gems around the hat, tied on red string. and created a hanger.  

Handmade Ornaments ~ Just a Few More

Made with a wooden honey dipper covered with glue and beads and glitter.  Click on "read more" to see the rest of the post.

More Handmade Ornaments

There are still so many that I have not photographed to share.  Here is one that I posted a "how to" on my S.C.R.A.P. blog:

Handmade Christmas Ornaments

I love, love, love to make handmade Christmas tree ornaments.  I've been making them every year for as long as I can remember.  My favorite time of the year to make them, prior to homesteading, was during the summer months.  I'd take my supplies outside and watch the kids play in their small pool.  Now that I garden in the summer, I have to adjust my time. 

These are just a few of my handmade Christmas ornaments, but wanted to share a few.  Each one brings back memories of when and where we lived when I made them.