A Closer Look at Okra

I had many comments about Okra Claus! So let's take a closer look.....

Begin with over grown okra. I strung it on fishing line and let it dry. After they were totally dry (about a month) I sprayed them with Kilz primer. I sprayed some red, some gold and some silver. I painted a small oval face of flesh. Then used this....

to give the beard texture. Finish with dot eyes.

The next step is to spray with Polycrylic to seal them. I mix up an antiquing glaze of burnt umber paint and satin acrylic varnish. I dab it on and wipe it off with a wet paper towel.

The little pom-pom on his stem/hat was white but, I didn't like it so I soaked them in tea to antique them.

Here is the gold version. I sprinkled a little glitter in his beard and fur.

I also saw some okra angels at a craft show recently so I am going to try making some. I haven't gotten far. The craft show version had a wooden bead for a head. I used some air drying clay to mould a face. I will use some sheer silver ribbon for wings.

Maybe I'll finish her before Christmas- but she may have to wait for next year to get her wings and halo!!!

A Little Crafty

Last weekend I went to a craft fair with some friends! It was a beautiful fall day and I was searching for some inspiration. Now I just need the time! One of the things that I saw was a t-shirt with a tree applique. It was very simple. I didn't copy it exactly, but it got my wheels turning. I headed to Hobby Lobby in search of some fabric and then to find some plain shirts. It turned out the shirts were the hardest to find! While at Hobby Lobby I ran into a sewing buddy who gave me another idea!

This tree is cut out of some Amy Butler fabric from my stash. I cut a smaller tree of fusing material and ironed it on. I stitched 1/4 inch in from the edge. Then I washed the shirt to fray the edge of the tree and added the vintage button at the top. The fusing material, "Heat-n-bond", will keep the tree from fraying too much when it is washed.
The next shirt is like the craft fair shirts. The tree is the same shape. This time I cut the "Heat-n-bond" the same size as the tree and ironed it on. I went around the tree with a blanket stitch by hand and added the button.
I hope this one does not fray as much when I wash it! I should have tried on the shirt before I sewed the tree on. It was a little snug- so I'm sending it on to my thinner daughter and I will have to make another one for me with a larger shirt!!

My next project will be to put up my nemesis.....the tree......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thrifty Thursday

......Christmas decorating edition.Last spring a favorite little gift shop closed. I bought a few things on sale then I began to notice the left overs showing up at a thrift store.... So I've been using some of these finds with my tree collection to spruce up my decorations this year. I would never buy those stacked boxes with the $61 price tag on them...but for $5.99...they are mine! Much of the greenery and stem decorations were $.59 each.... that's a long way from $3-$12 each!

At $10.25 a bag the faux cranberries are a little high....

thrift store price = $.39 !!!! I filled up the urns for my little trees!

At another estate/rummage sale I found the Santa boots with the same store's price tag on the bottom- $10 and $5 - rummage sale price $2 and $1!!!

And the Okra Claus - hanging on the tree - free! We had a big crop of okra this year. I have never had so much that I couldn't keep up with it. So I dried some and painted them up!

Thanks to Leigh for hosting Thrifty Thursday each week! Be sure to go by here to get some Thrifty (free!) Inspiration!

Back to Blogland

I can't believe that my break lasted almost a month! The next month will be a blur. We have a trip to the mountains (with the pugs!), Victorian Porch Christmas Tour, The Wedding, and Christmas!

This weekend my bestest girlfriends hosted a Cooking Shower for the Bride. We each included a favorite recipe and something to cook or serve it with. The hostesses put the recipes in a book for her. It was a great shower!

You know how I love burlap....here is my tote bag to keep my stuff ready and organized. I will carry my spare shoes and a box of Kleenex in it on wedding day. I made bags for the Bride and her Mom, too.

The family favorite recipe- Lasagna - and a 13 X 9 pan!

The beautiful dining room set up for the guests! The house looked like it should be in "Southern Living" !!!!!

The kitchen was set up as the coffee station. The hostesses each brought their good china to mix and match! Later on everyone ended up in the kitchen!

The hostesses, Moms and the excited Bride! I love how coordinated we are in our black, white and gray outfits!