My friend got a couple beautiful old tablecloths from her Mom in Ohio, and asked me to make her an apron.  

 

I made 8 aprons out of two tablecloths.  Four out of the pretty yellow flowered one, each with a different lining.  And four out of the navy check, again each one different.  

 

On the most special one:  I used the navy check and added a navy blue pocket with the yellow flowers appliquéd on it.  Sorry I didn’t take its picture.  

 

It was a really fun project for a few wintery days.  And made a bunch of my friends (and me) happy.

 

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!

 

Here is another kinetic sculpture by Al Garnto.  Its title is Atoms and Matter.

 

This one is about 10 feet tall, and the curved piece at the top moves with the wind. 

 

I hope you can get to Meeks Park to see these works of art.

 

 

HAPPY DECEMBER!!!

 

 

 

This is another sculpture by Al Garnto.  This one is titled Barn Bell and stands about 15 feet tall.

 

I’ve never heard the bell ring, but since it is another kinetic sculpture, I guess it rings when there is enough wind to make it spin.  Maybe the wind moves that shell shaped piece at the top, and causes the bell to ring.

 

 

THEY MAKE ME HAPPY!!!

 

This is one of several sculptures on display at Meeks Park.  I thought they might be fun to share.

 

These sculptures are kinetic in nature, and made mostly of recycled materials.  This one is titled Carbon Water Drops and it was made by Al Garnto.  It stands about 8 feet tall, and when the wind blows the red scoops at the top spin.  

 

Come back tomorrow and I will show you another one.  

 

 

HAPPY DECEMBER!!!

 

This is how a quilter cuts a cake.

 

I saw this on Facebook, and couldn’t help laughing.  

 

Thought you’d get a tickle out of it too.

 

 

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!

My friend was telling me about a trip she made to WalMart to buy two small pieces of fabric:  1/4 yard each.  The yard goods person only wrote down the price per yard for the fabric.  When she got to the cashier (a young person) he couldn’t figure out how to do the math.  Whaaat?  It took several other cashiers to figure it out.  Wow!!!

 

We were lamenting the lack of skills in young people nowadays:  namely math and social skills, but also homemaking skills like canning, sewing, and fixing things.  

 

I think it is all WalMart’s fault for luring us into buying cheap stuff, and then just throwing it away and buying new, cheap stuff.  Made me think of this meme.  Not sure they’re the same thing, but kinda…

 

I love our homesteading skills, as limited as they are.  We love growing and cooking our own food, canning it, and fixing things when they break.  We can also manage a little math and good conversations.  

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

Remember Jeannie Clark?  She is our artist friend.  She painted murals for a living, and she and Richard lived here from 2005 until they moved to Skidaway Island in about 2012.  Anyway, she painted really cool stuff in their house.  There is a deer on the wall in the main floor bedroom, and tropical leaves in the basement.  They are fabulous.  

 

I couldn't help myself when I saw this little metal frog.  So then I went looking for a three-legged stool, and painted it to go with the dresser.  

 

I thought you might like to see a little craftiness today.  

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

 

 

I finished the Dragonfly quilt, making use of those cold days we stayed inside.  

 

It is 45 inches square, and will hang on the wall going up to the loft.  We can see it from the living room.  

 

I just love these colors together.  They seem to dance.

 

HAPPY QUILTING!!!

 

This is what I'm working on during this spell of cold weather.  

 

I started making the dragonflies a couple weeks ago, and now I am in the process of positioning the dragonflies onto the background.  Not quite satisfied with the arrangement, yet.  But it should come together soon.  It is such a fun project.  I'll show it to you when it is finished and hanging on the wall.

 

Funny thing is:  I have to get upstairs and into my sewing chair before Gizmo takes it over for the day.  It's a race!!!

 

HAPPY WINTER!!!

 

 

 

Ever wonder where all our great decorations come from?  They are mostly made right here in Five Forks.  Here is a work in progress.  Jon is cutting out bats.  They will go on the haybale in October.

 

Most of the fun decorations are made by Patty in her garage.  Oh wait...in Bill's garage.  She calls it Folk Art;  he calls it taking up space.  Anyway, she loves using power tools to create stuff.  So most of the Jack O'Lanterns, Scarecrows, Snowmen, etc.  are Patty's creations.  I help paint them.  We work well together.

 

This time I designed the haybale for Halloween, and decided it needs bats.  So I drew the patterns, and Jon cut out and painted the bats.  

 

I love wielding a spray can to paint graffiti, but power tools scare me.  I will leave that job to the professionals, (read: the fearless,) like Patty and Jon.  

 

HAPPY CRAFTING Y'ALL!!!