Clutter and Unfinished Projects

 I was inspired by Kristie to take charge of of the clutter in my house.  Her challenge was to get rid of 5 things this weekend.    A.  DROP.  IN.  A.  BUCKET.   But still it got me motivated.  I have plenty of room in my booth to take "valuable"  clutter so I really have no excuse other than laziness.  One man's trash is another man's treasure is so true and I have much trash.    I started Friday by bringing home a bag from the thrift store with 10 items so I made a rule that I must further declutter to at least 15 things.    It was not hard at all.  So I added that more things must go that are harder to part with!
I really did OK with picking out some vintage restaurant ware to get rid of...I was just hoarding it!  So my grand total was 36!!!  

 During the declutter process I had to take stock of the unfinished projects for the booth that are building up.  Four of the items from Friday's thrift store trip were more projects!  On to another challenge.  I decided to finish 4 projects this weekend.  I got this watering can at the thrift store.  Should have taken a before picture- green with very ugly faded decal, but still had a cute shape and size going for it.  The make over included sanding, priming, painting and a sweet vintage kitty decal. #1- Done!

 This pillow is a burlap remnant that just fit a recycled down pillow insert.  I added the burlap flower and button,sewed it up...#2 Done!

 I started these pillowcase dresses a couple of weeks ago but put them aside when I ran out of thread.  Got the thread but never got back to finish the dresses!  Both made of vintage pillowcases (I admit to hoarding vintage pillowcases!)

Love the pattern on the boarder of this one and the ruffled eyelet on the white one! #3 and  #4 Done!

Mission  Accomplished!

 

 

Fine Animals

Two fine animals napping on Mom's pajamas in a tiny patch of sun, longing for Spring!

 So....I took a 2 month unexpected blogging "BREAK",,,, I have been lurking around, but, not in a mood to be creative or share.  I really do not like my blog to be negative or whiny so I became silent until I could be more cheerful.

Scene of the accident: Stairs 
Time: New Year's Eve, about 1:00 am
Reason: No glasses on, dark stairs, socks on feet

And down I went - All the way- 13 stairs.

Results: Broken wrist (Thank GOD that is all I broke!)
              Very bad bruises
              Possible cracked ribs
              Surgery
              Metal Plate and pins (spikes)
              Occupational Therapy

Now, to be positive- I was very lucky that I did not break my neck.  My surgeon has released me unless I need him. My OT is pleased with my progress so far.  I am not 100% with  range of motion and may never be but it will be functional.  I feel 200% better!!

See - I even got out some Easter decorations!

 I am really looking forward to Spring and warm weather.   I am so sensitive to cold and this metal plate seems to absorb the cold!

 Love the bunny family on the mantle!

 And a touch of Easter in the hall...

Bunnies under glass...

 

Here's a cheerful idea that I have shamelessly copied from Wanda's new blog.  A bowl of vintage flower pins!  Cute!

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

 We are ready for Christmas morning breakfast-

 Wake me when Santa comes.........

Cold weather makes for some strange bedfellows......(the heating vent is right next to the
dog crate!)   Poor Max is too big to squeeze in!

 

Merry Christmas from the Swamp!

At Least 26 Angels

My heart hurts for the families that have lost their children in  the last week.  I have

been that parent who got that unexpected call that no parent can understand.  Then 30 years later I was that grandparent who got that call.  I pray that God holds them tightly and gives them comfort.

I have never really noticed how many angels are sitting around my house at Christmas until this week.  I kept looking at the decorations with such an empty feeling.  Then suddenly only the angels seemed to warm me up.  And I started to count them - hoping that I had 26- or more. And I did. 

Hymnal Angels

 Last year I saw a Hymnal Angel in a gift shop.  Being too thrifty to pay the price I decided that I could figure it out.   I set out to find some old hymnals but was soon disappointed.  I had seen them often in thrift stores...until I needed some... I did find one.  I made an angel for the music teacher that I work with in the violin program.  I was so excited that I forgot to take her picture!   I spent the year with my eye out for some hymals and only found 4 this year!

 Her face is a paper mache covered styrofoam ball.  Her hair is moss and her halo is a sparkly gold pipe cleaner.  The face is very simple -pink cheeks and dots for eyes and a mouth.   Bits of old lace for a collar and sleeves.  Her arms are pipe cleaners.

She holds a gold ribbon with a tag made of scraps, buttons and an old glass ball.

Her body and wings are folded pages of the hymnal.  I did take out any torn pages and page 142 had "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" so I used that to make the tag.

Back view

To make the wings fold the bottom corner up and crease on the first 25 pages and the last 25 pages.
To make the body fold the top corner down on all of the middle pages- which takes some time!!!!

Two of them sold as soon as I put them in my booth.  I just finished the other 2 last night so they are ready to go to the booth today!

I am linking up to this party!