Copy Cat - Somewhat

In reading blogs from all around the world I read about the latest, newest and hot trends in a variety of subjects. Some of the trends are repeats of a past generation - such as I find in my quilting blogs. In the blogs of decorating using objects in a repurposed nature seems to be a fun subject. In the scrapbooking blogs there seems to a new way of creating cards or photo pages by using a newly released machine, cartridge, paper, or what ever.

All of these blogs show me a different personality - but since quilting, decorating and scrapbooking are hobbies I enjoy I find a real pleasure in reading them. Also have met some very wonderful, kind, and caring people.

In the decorating field, burlap seems to be the rage. Also shopping at the thrift stores or local yard sales keeps lots of us happy. Locating pictures frames with interesting detail during these adventures seems to pop up pretty often. Another thing I have noticed is the desire to put your monogram on a variety of items - other than the normal towels or pillowcases...guess that is still done...perhaps I am indicating the fact that I am older than many of our blog writers...not that I was around at the time Columbus set sail but still older.

So taking a picture frame and some burlap I created something. Remember back several months ago when my sweet honey bought me the embroidering machine...well I have used it some...but spring and summer arrived ...which means more time in the yard and less time in the sewing room. Weather is now cooler, flowers are about gone, and I am ready to get back to the sewing room and create...this is what I made this morning...before heading out to help with the funeral dinner at church. Remind me some time to give you a list of items that mourners will not eat at funeral dinners...that is another story (blog posting) all in rolled into one.

So I was a copy cat in this...Marilyn in Southern Oklahoma made one like this several weeks ago....loved the idea...so copied her - then used the interesting frame suggestion from other bloggers - the burlap from other ladies who like to make drapes, etc from this fabric - used one of the fonts available on the embroidery machine to make the "W". This will be sitting on my desk.

Ideas were copied - but still wound up with one of a kind item - and the cost was just pennies.

Have a fun week...copy only the ideas that make you happy!



Amelia

I am playing follow the leader in this game - decorating, crafting, or what ever you call this.

Some Day

Some day, one day, soon this beautiful little girl will have lots of hair. Now, it is short and reddish blond, but we know in time all this will change.

We all love her anyway.

Not a lot of anything going on around here. Husband's knee is really bothering him - will have surgery - waiting on Doctor's office to give us the date - seems like some one dropped the ball last time we were there and failed to schedule the surgery - I called them and now waiting!

Was pretty weather last week so we accomplished some outdoor things. I know one thing, if we had a dime for all the leaves on our place we would be very rich. Not all have fallen so will wait until that happens and then have a mulching party. Some of my flowers are still in bloom - amazing - with it being nearly the middle of November.

Leon bought me a Cricut machine a couple or so weeks ago...so have been doing some scrapbooking pages of that sweet with not much hair grand daughter of ours. Still quilting - just at night - doing my hand quilting then.

Have not been to garage/yard sales or thrift stores in the last several weeks...I need to process some of the last things purchased - before I add anymore to the stack.

You all have a great week - do something that brings a smile to your face - thank God for all the blessings of life.

Amelia

P.S. In case you wondered who was in the picture above - well, I call her Little Girl, Leon calls her L.A. (Little Amelia) and her parents and brother call her Millie...but her given name is Amelia Elaine.

Happy Halloween - 2009

Have a fun day!


Amelia

What a bit of paint will do...

Several days ago my husband asked if we had a display plaque or something along that line. He wanted it for a poem written by one of our sweet ladies at church regarding the anniversary of our church. We did not - but told him I would look next time at the Dollar Tree.

No blank placque ones were available but this was what I found: It was the size I wanted and with some paint it could be transformed. While there at the display I thought why not pick up a total of four. I figured I could do something right, wrong or otherwise with the remaining three.

Since this was going to be hung in our Sunday School class room I opted for a very plain style...my likes might not be what some of the other class members would like...so plain and simple it was. Painted it black - glued down poem from the newspaper and the business card our pastor uses...job complete.

That left me with three - figured while I had the paint out...glue gun...wooden letters...etc I would do them for Halloween, Christmas, and 4th of July.  May do some more tweaking with the Christmas and July ones when the time comes to display them...but this is how they look right now

Just look what some paint can do to create something so very different.

Christmas Crafts

Because of a new idea I have floating around in my head I retrieved the plastic tote from my storage building marked "Christmas Craft Items".

Upon taking off the lid I could tell there were things used for several different projects from different years all tucked away.

Remember when we appliquéd different seasonal things to sweat shirts...found several of those in there. Some were from fabric I had purchased - others really don't know where I obtained them...yard sale, perhaps. Who knows - but does not make any difference - I do believe they are headed for the trash pile.

Also found silk poinsettias, holly leaves, and pine cones...probably from some wreath I created.

At least 20 rolls of ribbon - some marked with having 75 feet on them...some with only 9 feet...and a good array of other lengths...I don't believe any of them have the wire in the edges like we use now.

Located in the bottom found four or five fleece stockings...plain ones...I believe one year I put small gifts in the stockings instead of wrapping the gift.

Hidden in there too were at least 200 wire hangers for items going on the tree...you know how from year to year these get lost and you wind up buying another package..just in case you need them.

About 5 pieces of fabric with a Christmas design...not enough to do anything with...but will definitely hang on to it...would go great in a scrappy quilt.

Also found about 10 plastic bags of misc items used in crafts -ranging from 20 small wooden balls to red and gold tassels.

Can't say for sure that I found what I was looking for to use in the new idea or not - but sure brought back some memories of Christmas times past.



Amelia

Can't tell time...maybe

In looking out my picture window this afternoon I spotted this morning glory in full bloom. Now if it had been morning I would not have thought much about it. However, the time was about 2:45 pm.

I suppose this plant decided it will bloom at the time it pleases, when it pleases and if it pleases...hard headed like me (my husband would say).

Real reason, has been overcast all day and the temperature is in the mid 60's.


You guys have a great week - do something exciting - and blog about it.



Amelia

Garden Party

This post is being created by the child in me - so play along.

Each fall a large party is held at the fine home of the Watkins family. At this time of the year they are staying in their central Oklahoma mansion.

< > The invitations have been sent out far and wide to those wishing to be a part of these festivities. Shown above is the character in charge of these much wanted invites:  Please take note his pal "Doozy" is perched on his head. This handsome man is lovingly known to all in this county as "Harry, the Hobo".

With a hidden camera I managed to check out what the flowers/plants will be wearing to this exciting event. Molly the Mum has chosen yellow for her dress - this particular style also comes in several other colors - such as bronze, pink, deep wine to mention a few. This is a repeat wearing of this dress for her - she wore it in the "Spring Fling"...getting to see her twice in it is fantastic...getting the money's worth when there is a double showing during a season.

Featured in the eastern part of the yard we find Suzy Sumac flaunting her orange red attire. Please note the dress is really short...her thin legs seem to be showing a bit much.

Let's stop and check out the pon-pon effect as sported by Marjorie Marigold. She is surrounded by her sisters - Maggie, Marilyn, Mona, and MarySue. At this time we are not sure if all the Marigold girls will be attending the party or not...heard something about one of them dashing off to Vegas for a wedding.

In this picture you will see Candy Celosia and her room-mate Geraldine Geranium. Both of these ladies are preparing for the big night. After a hot summer they are beginning to show their age...but we won't tell them...don't want to spoil their fun. This foxy lady with what appears to be fans is known to her friends as Montana Maiden-Grass. Her fans have not finished their annual spreading...but she will strut her stuff anyway.

Tucked in this setting are the Impatien women. They seem to be in full fashion at this time with such bright colorful garments. Let's give a hand to Imogene, Iris and Irene as they finish prettying up for the fall get-to-gather.

From the north side of the yard is the location of this lovely beauty. Society debs call her "Miss Heidi. This name is quite appropriate because her last name is hard to spell and pronounce. Can't determine if Hydrangea is French, German, or Swedish.

Well, look in this corner, we have some gentlemen all decked out in their various shades of green tuxedos. As with most men, they are just standing there - probably telling some big story about the fish that got away, or the quest of some shady lady, or some other wild tale.

Rumor has it, the drink of the evening will be a punch made from the juice of these small delectable grapes. People around here call them Possum Grapes...which sounds so country...but I have heard that in New York they are referred to miniature "Purple Pearl Plums". Since we have not had a frost yet, the punch will be sweet. Once a freeze happens these berries become like small bits of alcohol. This is just something I have heard thru the years...could be just folk lore...don't know sure.

All parties need decorations - this one is no exception - this smiling face is adorning one of the walls. Will just have to wait and see what other items will appear as decorations at this seasonal affair.

Music - a must have - heard the crows practicing their mo-town sounds this afternoon. Also the Canadian Geese have promised a few rhythmic honks that they are so famous for.

In looking over the list of ones invited a few names popped out that I am sure you would love to see. Let me run down that paper and rattle off the names. Rosetta-the rose for instance will be there. Also Misty-the morning glory will attend - but will have to leave early - remember her job is an morning one. Phyllis the Phlox has already left for her winter home - she will be missed by all the rest of the attendees.

Who knows what might happen at this party - the birds will twitter all of you set up on this means of communication. Those of you on face book just might get to see some pictures.


SOCIETY NEWS


- Amelia

Dessert

This morning I knew we were going to have "Refrigerator Buffet" for lunch. Yes, that is a fancy name for left-overs.

Leon has no problem with food served the second time around - but to make the meal more appetizing I made an apple pie.  Using these apples from our tree - did not get many apples this year as the frost killed probably 99% of the blossoms. Served this with a topping of vanilla ice cream...um um good! One more thing, I used home made crust - which to me is better tasting.


Chef Amelia

Rainy Day Crafting

One day this past week the weather was yucky! Cold, wet, wind blowing - all not good for working in my flower beds.

I had a couple of projects floating in the back of my mind - yes, my brain can be pretty empty at times, so there was plenty of room to float around in.

For some time I had wanted wooden blocks that spelled out Merry Christmas. Of course, I did not want to pay mega bucks for them...kept thinking I would find a set at yard/garage sale. Sure enough, hit pay dirt, well almost. I wanted it to say Merry Christmas and this set said Happy Holidays. Now to most people this would have been super okay. Not me, I wanted what I wanted and was determined to get it. Yes, I am spoiled but it is my husband's fault. So the search began to find wooden letters to use. None of the stores here in my local area had them. While in Okla. City we checked at Hobby Lobby - came up empty handed - then to Michaels - found them there at $4.00 per package. We could not determine how many of each letter was in the package - so Leon said buy two packages. Paid 50 cents for the block set and now we have little over $8.00 in letters...but I got what I wanted - see. I put the white dots on the block - painted the wooden letters red - super glued them in place. Project now complete.

Shortly after I got those wooden letters at Michaels a shipment arrived at the local Dollar Tree. Being their cost was one-fourth of what I had paid per package in OKC I picked up a couple of these packages. So for a period of time I had a excellent stock of wooden letters to do craft projects.

At the same time while at Dollar tree I picked up one of those wooden (I think really pressed cardboard stuff) plaque deals...you know the one where you can hang it with the attached ribbon.

Painted the sign brown, goldenrod colored paint went on the letters...got out some fall leaves. I had gotten some chestnuts from my hairdresser so got those out. Glue came next - and this is what I created. Oh, I know I could have probably picked up one for little cash at the store - but the fun in creating something is so satisfying for the hands, body, and soul. Since this has more of a Thanksgiving theme I will put it out when I get out Mr. Turkey and the pilgrims.

When all was said and done....I went to church Wednesday night with three colors of paint on my fingers...all covered up by crazy glue. Now, it is all gone - but that night they were reminders of how much fun I had with my crafting projects.

Guess I am still a kid at heart - painting and glue are my friends!