Unfinished projects

I have a braided rag rug started, but unfinished, sitting by a soft chair that I randomly work on. Ultimately, it will go in the girls room which is the ONLY reason it is pink! I like it because it is something to do when I feel I need to stop for a few minutes and sit. But when I sit and do nothing my mind is racing around to all the things I should be doing. This way, I'm both sitting and occupied. It is taking me much much longer than I anticipated but I hope for happy endings. 

It is residing in a basket that was once that light yellowish color but I decided that it would find favor with my eyes if I spray painted it. Now I like it and where it sits on the floor it catches your eye. Before, I tried to hide it.

 

  

Far from perfect as you can see, I am also making my mom a scrap quilt. Here is one of the blocks. I'm almost ashamed to admit that I'm STILL working on it and shan't mention how long ago I started it. Lets just say I've moved 3 times and had a baby since it first had it's beginning. I have a goal to get it to her by the end of the summer... There are nearly 200 completed blocks to make up the quilt. I'd rather not know how many I still have to do to make that number. The squares are 2". I'm also planning to machine quilt it myself...yikes!

Jute Ball

After going to Hobby Lobby, seeing their "string wrapped" styrofoam balls, I thought, "I can do that!"
I had picked up some jute string at Wal-Mart figuring I can use it before too long. Taking the idea from a friend to make a ball out of a wad of newspaper wrapped with plastic wrap and tape, I made a "jute ball". It's not perfect in roundness but I thought it added to the look.
Just make your wad-ball, glue and wrap the jute or hemp around it till finished.

Trash Can Thrift

I have had, from our wedding day, a typical 13 gallon kitchen trash can. In the 4 other houses we've lived in, it seemed to find a nook to hide. This house, different story. I always felt like it "stuck out" and had no where to go. I wanted one to go under the sink but could never justify buying a new one when I already had one...just so it would go under the sink.
Then one day as I worked in the kitchen, this dilemma was being pondered. I turned from the sink and there was my trash can!
Several weeks earlier I had picked up a few (free) 5 gallon buckets from Sam's Club bakery to brine my pork into ham. This particular bucket was still flitting about in my kitchen being used for various things by my little girls.
NOW, it resides under my sink as a perfect trash can...out of sight...free...frugal...and not taking up space in storage. I really like my little trash can and I wonder why I couldn't have thought of that earlier???




















My other trash can? I was trying to figure out what to use for my recycle "bin". Viola, I now have a trash-can-under-the-sink and a recycle "bin" for my plastic and cans.

( cinnamon rolls anyone? fresh from the oven, soft, melting, the BEST )

I can get lost here...thought I'd share! :)

Christmas turned Winter

I had these little trees on my xanga site but thought I'd show how they continued to be useful past Christmas and on into this cold January.










I left them on my table, removed the bowl of ornaments, and added a candle with the wick trimmer.

Timmidly setting out

After many days of wide-eyed blog surfing, I switched to here to blog my own little world of budding creativity. Not that I never was before but a whole new world is breaking out and I'm jumping in, head first.
First off, I'll show you one of the things I did today. I would put the link to where I got the idea but I can't remember where it was nor can I find it now. I just remember things well so plunged in hoping I didn't forget some vital detail.

I always struggle with the tops of my cupboards and what to put on them in a way that I approve. I can never justify spending what it would take to suit my taste so it's been rather hodge podge.
Today, I started working on that problem.

While at Wal-Mart I bought medium Hemp. First time but don't think the last! In my head, I got a roll of twine because it reminds me of old style twine.
At home, I blew up a balloon, tied it to a cupboard knob and made my little girls wonder why they just lost a perfectly good, pink balloon!
I read to use fabric starch, but, since I don't keep that on hand I decided to come up with something else. Solution: flour, water, glue. I mixed them to form a light paste, about the consistancy of glue. The glue is Mod Podge.


I wrapped a generous amount around my hand, cut, then put into my mixture to soak. After a few minutes I lightly stripped it of it's "goo" and held it in a loose coil in one hand so it wouldn't get tangled. Next wrap it hap-hazardly around the balloon. If you want a heavier look, just repeat the steps.
The hardest part, waiting for it to dry! I wanted to use it right away! When it's dry, simply pop the balloon.

I just made these and they are hanging to dry as I tap away on the keyboard. I did a larger one earlier however and love how it looks.
The other thing I did with the hemp was wrap an empty, glass schnapps bottle with the stuff. I coated the bottle with Mod Podge, little at a time, for adhesive.
Knowing a branch had fallen and was out in my flower bed, I put it to good use.
Here is one small corner of my cupboard top, beginning it's reformation.