And in my Spare time......

I CREATED A NEW DOILY - HA!  This one is 8 1/4 X 12 1/2" in length. I did not have a pattern but just used the cotton crochet thread to make granny squares, joined them together and edged with varigated thread.  I was very happy with the result and hope you will like it, too! I am putting this one on Etsy today. Thanks for looking and come again soon. Kerrie

Scarlett's Pugs

These are 2 magnets that we made as a gift for Scarlett, our friend who works at the cancer center.  I drew the patterns from photographs, Bill cut them out of birch with the scrollsaw in Intarsia technique. The pieces are then glued back together and mounted on a backing. I painted them using the photos as a guide. Finishing with a few coats of varnish and a magnet on the back and they were done.  Scarlett adored them and was so surprised!

If you would like to have your pet photo made into a magnet, e-mail.  Custom magnets are only 9.00 and includes postage.

Happy New Year to all you crafters out there!

Last Minute Gifts

Here are a few last minute gifts we made from wood. The strange looking pieces with the holes are actually book page holders!  You put your thumb through the hole and put this device on the book you are reading in the middle of the pages and it holds your pages out flat for you while reading!!  These are last minute gifts for our 2 grandchildren who are avid readers.  These are great for reading paperbacks if you read them in bed as I do.  Bill cut them out from my drawing and I painted them and put the names on them with acrylic paint.
  The little doe head is a magnet for our grandson whose first hunting experience yielded his first Doe in October this fall. Bill cut the doe out in Intarsia method, glued the pieces back together and I painted the details.  All 3 of these pieces then get several coats of clear varish to finish off. 

If you would like us to make personalized page holders for the readers in your family and friends, just e-mail us or leave your e-mail in comments and we will contact you. Only $6.00 each includes Postage! Paypal, M.O. accepted

Merry Christmas to all you crafters!  Thanks for visiting and please check out my Etsy site and other blogs whose links are in the sidebar.

HERE IS A PRINTABLE PAPERDOLL FOR YOU!

    Just right click to download and then print the size you desire from your file! I still love paperdolls!

Colored Pin and Bead Tree to Make

HERE IS A VERY SWEET LITTLE TREE THAT YOU CAN MAKE IN ONE SITTING! I made it up last year while fooling with some colored headed straight pins and clear beads. All you need is a styrofoam tree shape, a few dozen large colored bead straight pins and faceted clear beads.  Push the pin through the clear bead and into the tree form. Just start putting them around the tree until you have enough rows to look full and pretty.  I just loved the way it came out and it was so simple! And it is so easy to store and use again.

Come back soon!  Please check my other blogs that are linked in the sidebar to see my vintage Santa cards and Christmas Cactus plants.  Thank you for coming!

Glass Cozies delivered!

My daughter was delighted with the glass cozies I crocheted for her!  Her hubby is behind her.  Granddaughter Jessica is sitting on the floor next to her Mother, our daughter Barbara.  All handmade gifts were a hit this year!

Rosemary with the collector doll I made.

Barbara with the crocheted dish cloths and towel set.

son-in-law Mark, with the floor Santa we made for him.

Grandson, Seth showing his Hunting Jornal I made for him.

Daughter Christine cried with joy at receiving this wooden quiltblock that Bill made for her.

Grandon Seth with a hat hook I made for him with hunting decals on it.

Our Craft Items........

 Hi!  I am taking some of my craft items out of my Etsy shop today so I can use them for my own gift giving.  Since they have not sold, I will only leave the other Christmas Items up for sale until next Saturday after Christmas. So if you are wanting anything mailed out tomorrow by priority, please order today.  Thank you for looking and please come again soon.  This site is used for how-to's and patterns offered free in addition to our work that we sell so stop by often!  God Bless, have a great weekend.  Kerrie 

Sweet Advent Calendar

This is a very easy project I found in one of my craft books!  Lettering is made from the pattern provided on material that has been ironed onto fusible webbing.  Then it is cut out and ironed onto material.  You could use material you have around, it does not need to be quilted. 
Materials:
Scraps of assorted fabrics for appliques, paper-backed fusible web, a black permanent marker and thread.
  Marker is used to draw details on Santa,  and stars. Trim with ribbon or back with contrasting material and fold to front to make the framed look. Cut 24 11" lengths of red yarn. Stitch center of each yarn length in place on front of calendar.  Tie ends of each yarn length into a bow around one candy piece. Calendar shown is 12" by 25".
Patterns below, right click to copy.

Enlarge pattern after saving to your computer.
































Happy crafting today!  Another easy wreath of candy can be made by tying wrapped candies to a wreath form or a wire hanger that has been shaped into a circle.  Tie enough candy on to fill the circle.  Tie a ribbon on the neck of the hanger with a child's scissors attached so that your guests can cut a piece of candy from the wreath.  I have been making these for the past 50 yrs!!

INTARSIA DEER PLAQUE JUST COMPLETED

BILL JUST FINISHED THIS BEAUTIFUL INTARSIA DEER PLAQUE MEASURING 24" HIGH BY 18" FROM ANTLER TIP TO ANTLER TIP. THIS PIECE IS COMPRISED OF 34 INDIVIDUAL PIECES CUT OUT, SANDED, STAINED AND PAINTED, GLUED TOGETHER AND THEN MOUNTED ON A BACKING.  I JUST LOVE IT! I have the first he ever made but this one is for sale in the Etsy shop and also on this site.  We hope you enjoy viewing our craft work and please come again soon.  If you are looking for a GIFT FOR A HUNTER This is it!!

SELLING FOR $79.00 INCLUDES POSTAGE!

Thank you for visiting and please visit my other blogs-links are in the side bar.  Kerrie and Bill

CROCHETED GLASS COZIES

I JUST FINISHED CROCHETING a set of 6 glass cozies in the shell pattern for my oldest daughter.  I am banking on the fact that she is much too busy working and being a wife and Mom to notice this new post on my blog-ha!  It is a surprise for her.  I crocheted them in 100% cotton crochet thread using a simple shell pattern and made up the shape to acommodate the glass.  She had seen some at a craft show several years ago and said she would like some.  I finally got around to making these.  I added the rose as an embellishment and I know she will love them.  If you are interested in having a set, please let me know and I will let you know when I have more and their price.  God Bless and thank you for visiting!  Come again soon!

These will be washed before wrapping for the gift which will tighten the pattern a bit. The crochet is stretchy and will fit the glass snugly. I love the look and feel of these. They are completely washable and can even be dried in the dryer. You could also use them to dress up a vase. Wouldn't roses look great in one of these? Please visit my other blog sites by clicking on the links in the side bar for seeing my vintage dolls and hand carved Santa's and Christmas Cactus.              

                  God Bless you all through the holidays and New Year!

Kerrie ♥

HOME MADE ORNAMENTS

TODAY I AM SHARING some of our home made wooden ornaments and one of my clay ornaments.  My hubby creates these wonderful ornaments with his scroll saw and then we paint them.  They are a beautiful addition to any tree or hanging along the fireplace mantel.  It is hard to part with them after Bill makes them.  So sometimes we sell them and sometimes not - ha!  That is the trouble with home made wood items, you get attached to them after you have lovingly created them with your own two hands.  It is the same when I paint.  I have sold oil paintings only to have to paint the same scene again for my own enjoyment and to hang in my own home.

Cardinal Ornament

I created this small clay elf atop a clay covered ball ornament.  It was baked in the oven to harden it and kept in the attic all through the year.  I was most happy to bring it out again and it makes me smile when I look at his little face.

Thanks for visiting and come again soon!  Don't forget to visit my other two blogsites for more of Christmas.  Links are in my side-bar

Folklore Crafts-Afghan

THIS AFGHAN PATTERN fascinated me when my daughter made it and the story behind the pattern.  Legend has it that the pattern was created by slaves who could only count to ten.  So they used multiples of 10 stitches to create this wonderful design.  After the stitches are completed for the size desired, the raised braid effect is created by linking the loops from bottom edge to top much like the method we used to make rope leads for horses many years back.  The effect is quite stunning and I love the bold color my daughter used for this particular one.  I am attempting my own but fear that I did not start out with enough stitches.  When you link the loops one over the other, it shortens the width necessitating twice as many stitches at the start which I did not allow for.  So I will be ripping out and restarting .....or end up with a doll afghan-ha! My daughter learned this from a grandmother she met who is in her 80's and very with it.  She is part American Indian and is most talented in crafts. 

Do you have a craft you can share the history for its creation??  I would love to have you share!!

Some of my Original Artwork

The carolers above are a product of my imagination.  I have been making cards and gift tags a few at a time and just wanted to share!  To see more, please visit my TWO HAPPY blog link in the sidebar.  Thanks for stopping, come again!

Where the wild things are....

My hubby has a wall in the den with just things he has made from wood that he treasures.  All but the fans are Intarsia figures.  They are cut into small pieces and put back together like mosaic.  In fact that is where the Italian word Intarsia came from.  It means mosaic and the technique is a mosaic in wood.  It takes many hours to create these pieces but he loves making them.  We have a special order for the Buck Deer and he is making another right now.  We always keep the first one made.  Thanks for looking and come back soon!

A SPECIAL GIFT TODAY

Hi!  I just wanted to share a home made gift that I received from Heidi over at Fairy footprints in the Sand blog http://myarizonaangels.blogspot.com/ .  My name was chosen from her give-a-way and I was truly thrilled!  Heidi does such beautiful work and I will treasure her hand decorated domino made into a necklace!  Here is a picture that I know will awe and inspire you!  ♥ Kerrie

I would love to make one of these but I am certain it will not be as beautiful as this one.  Thank you Heidi!

Beautiful Handmade Collector Doll

GOOD MORNING!  Last evening I finished my one of a kind collector doll.  This is all hand made with muslin, yarn, beads, buttons, lace embellishments, earrings and bracelet, hair bow.  This is a collector doll and not for babies or small children as there are little pieces in her make up.  She is dressed in a dress with short sleeves trimmed in lace, petty pants with lace on the legs, Large satin hair bow, hand sewn yarn hair and embellishments.  She is 12 1/2 inches tall and 10 1/4 inches from finger tip to finger tip.  This is a non-dressable doll meaning that her clothes are permanently sewn to the body.  You could give her a hat and coat however and socks.  I had her tucked away for years after cutting her out and adding the stamped face and was so happy to finish her, giving her "birth"!  I name her Jessica but you can give her your own name if desired.  She will be on Etsy or you can buy her now here for $29.00 plus postage per your instructions.  Thanks so much for visiting my craft site and come again often.  Next project will be felt baby booties, so darling!

Sweet Little Baby Dolls

ADORABLE BABY DOLL PAIR!  Soft, washable without undressing.  All handstitched and created by seller.  Lace trimmed bonnets, pink print dresses with ribbon and button trims.  These make wonderful newborn gifts or for toddlers.  Also doll collectors.  Smaller doll measures 7 1/2"H and larger is 8"H.   Just $12.50 plus postage for the pair!  Will mail per your instructions.  Priority cost is 4.80.

          Thank you for stopping and please see my other items offered!

Free Give-A-Way

Buzz on over to www.favecrafts.com/sweeps/Bronze-Metal-Clay-Giveaway#  They are having a great give-a-way for Bronze Metal Clay, perfect for you crafters who make jewelry!  I would love to win this item.  Hope all you crafters have a wonderful Friday the 13th and please visit my other blogs in the sidebar for more about the 13th.  Kerrie

Baby Crocheted Ski Hat

Here is a colorful little crocheted Toddler ski cap.  I just love the combination of pink and green together and the pompom of the 2 colors tops it off.  This took hardly any time to complete.  $10.00 plus postage per your instructions.  Priority is 4.80. 

Baby Bonnet and Preemie beanie

SWEET LITTLE PREEMIE beanie with green stripe and crocheted flower.  Soft acrylic yarn in knit pattern.  Perfect for that tiny little head.  $5.00 plus shipping per your instructions.  Priority is $4.80.

Detail of flower embellishment

Wonderful lacey crocheted bonnet with brim in soft acrylic varigated yarn.  Brim can be worn forward or rolled back revealing popcorn stitch for accent.  $8.00 plus postage.

I love hand crocheted and knitted patterns!  I cannot always follow the patterns easily but these items came out just fine!  I love the soft colors and yarn texture.  My favorite yarn is Simply Soft and can be purchased at Wal-mart and AC Moore Craft Stores. It washes beautifully and is dryer safe.  When I make afghans in this yarn, I wash before giving or selling and they come out beautiful!