Some Little Mouse Ate My Candy Bar!

These are my painting smocks and aprons I have hanging in the studio. Once in a while I stash a chocolate candy bar in my pocket. You know! For those stressful creative times?

Well, some little mouse ate right through the inside of my pocket and helped himself/herself to my candy bar! 

I just hope it died of a chocolate overdose!! 

A Day On The Farm and A New Bag

Since school started, I have spent less time in the studio. My weekdays are now full of schoolwork, homeschooling groups and taking care of my family, and the weekends go by too fast.

On that note, every year around this time, our homeschooling group takes a field trip to a local farm where the kids get a tour of the farm and a few hours playing while the parents fellowship.

We couldn't have asked for a prettier day.

There are lots of fun activities for the kids, including a petting zoo, pedal cars, a corn maze (just to mention a few.)

Burying each other in the corn pit is always a must.

and picking a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch tops the day off.

Meanwhile.........as I adjust into the groove of juggling school, family, and me time,  I did manage to make the flat bottom girl bag out of my new bag book this week.

I used linen and some floral material out of my stash.

Chau!

More Rag Rug and A New Book

I figured out why all the pictures I take in the craft room all come out looking dingy. It's the lighting! Duh, Linda!

I went to Home Depot and did a little home work. You're probably saying "just change out the bulbs." That is an option, but lighting fixtures have come a long way since these 20 year old ones, so why not replace the fixtures? Not to mention, the new ones would be more energy efficient.

 Anyway, on the way home from Home Depot, I happen to come across a garage sale and picked up a blue and pink t-shirt, so I added a few rows to the rag rug in progress.

Once again, sorry for the dingy picture. 

Oh, I also stopped by the fabric store for thread and came home with this new book. 

Now, who doesn't want to make their own bag?

A Very Colorful Rag Rug

I started working on a rag rug to put next to my daughter's bed. Her room is very colorful. Can you tell? I chose to use t-shirts, which I think gives the rug a softer feel.

The center is a tie dye t-shirt I found at a garage sale.

Guess what I'll be doing this weekend? Hitting the garage sales looking for t-shirts. 

If this rug turns out, I'll be making one to go next to my bed.

 I'll be sure to do a step by step tutorial on the next one.

Have you ever made a rag rug? Please share.

Chau!

Inexpensive Poster

This is a poem I found in a book published by Helen Steiner Rice. My daughter went off to college this year, and I thought this would be a cute inspirational poem to hang above her desk. I don't really know if she'll hang it up or not, so I didn't want to invest too much into this. You know, sometimes kids don't appreciate the same things we do. First, I want to apologize for the poor quality pictures. The lighting in the craft room was not cooperating. Anyway......

This is how I turned this poem into a poster.

First, I cut a piece of thin cardboard to 8 1/2" x 11".

I painted Gesso on both sides. Gesso is a sealer so the acrylic paint won't be absorbed by the cardboard.

While the gesso is drying, I glued the poem onto a pretty piece of scrapbooking paper and used a pair of decorative scissors for the edge.

After the gesso has dried, I painted both sides of the cardboard with acrylic paint to match the scrapbooking paper.

Glue the poem onto the painted cardboard. Tip: if the cardboard has curled, flatten overnight by putting a stack of books on it. That'll do the trick.

Punch a couple holes in the corners.

I braided a few rafia pieces together for a hanger or you could use a piece of yarn, etc. 

Whala!

If my daughter likes it and hangs it up, great!

If she doesn't, no hard feelings.

The poem reads:

Again, I apologize for the poor quality pictures. It just wasn't happening for me today.

Chau!

It's Been Too Long

I have neglected my blog, and I really have no excuses. I always find time to read other people's blogs. Maybe that's it! I feel like most of the time, I don't have anything interesting enough to share that anyone else would care to read or see. 

Oh well, I guess that's for you to decide.....

Today, was a glorious day, and I felt like grilling. Since it was only my daughter and I for dinner, I decided to grill corn on the cob and chicken hotdogs. The secret to grilling corn on the cob is to pre-soak the ears in water for at least 15 minutes so the husks can absorb the moisture. 

Looking good!

Cook for 15 - 20 minutes. Slather on butter and salt, and it's ready to eat!

This is our dog, Maggie. Her eye looks kind of creepy here. She is patiently waiting for me to go back outside to check the grill and maybe convince me to play.

Hope you had a good weekend.