What's happening over here in my neck of the woods!

Well, when you don't see me for a while it's always because I'm busy!

I've been working on MORE pumpkins for a special order from Etsy.

She didn't like the original stems that I added so I trimmed them up

just for her!!! Still, no sale.

So now I offer this sweet set of three to you ~ the very last of the season!

Simply click HERE to see my listing...

PLUS!!!! We are having a fall sale in our General Store Soap Shop as well!

Simply type the word LEAVES into the Coupon Code box when checking out

to receive 20% your ENTIRE ORDER!!!!!

The VERY best part of my week so far???

Our second born son has found a precious girl and is so much in LOVE with her!!!!

This right here makes my day, my month, my YEAR!

Happy Tuesday angels ~

hugs and love,

Dawn

Getting back to my little sweetie!

Yes, it's been awhile!

But I get sidetracked easily and plus I was a bit intimidated

about painting her face ~

But I did it!!!

This weekend I just decided to go for it and if I messed up,

I would just paint over it and start again.

Here's my first try and I'm so pleased...

yes, she's still naked and bald but I'm working on her hair right now.

I'm using suri alpaca wool for her hair.

Each piece has to thoroughly combed and cleaned then

I make tufts to glue around her head starting at the nape of her neck.

I'm going to cut it into a sweet bob I think, we'll see!

You can see in the photo below, on the right is how the hair starts off

and on the left after combing and cleaning....

you have to comb it with a large needle too!

I hope her hair turns out OK...but I guess you never learn until you try!!

And my last set of three pumpkins is finished!!

I just love this wonderful crinkly fabric...

perfect to take you through fall and even into Thanksgiving.

They would be beautiful piled into a wire basket!!!

Now listed in my Etsy shop too :)

Thank you always for stopping by to see what I'm up to ~

Happy Monday precious friends!!!

hugs and love,

Dawn

The sweet supply is dwindling...

It is.

My wonderful pumpkin stem stash is dwindling away!

But I guess that's a good thing.

I just love using what is in my studio. You know, "my stash"

Using what I have is such a good thing!

Because, good grief, I sure am not going to be able to take it with me.

I only have enough stems to make about four or five more but

here are the most recent three I've made...

Three little pumpkins...one bigger, another a teeny bit littler and then the littlest.

Each created from cotton fabric, sewn then handpainted a pretty cream color.

Then a real stem is glued on top and then dusted with clear, crystal glitter!

The glitter gives the effect of "frost on the pumpkin"

I'm so glad I've used these stems.

And glad that I've used fabric that was already in my studio too!

It always, ALWAYS makes me feel so good

to make something pretty from simple supplies that I already have.

These sweeties are sold as a set of three

listed in my Etsy shop now!

That really is a crazy stem on the big one isn't it?

I debated on cutting it down but loved its craziness so much I just couldn't!!!

Happy Friday angels.

Thank you always, always for visiting me here!

hugs and love,

Dawn

A sweet little trio ~

I've had this crinkled tan/gold shimmery curtain panel for years.

But since I've been making a few pumpkins,

I kept looking at it thinking to myself,

"I bet this fabric would make beautiful little pumpkins!"

Well my friends...it DID!

I am so in love with this little trio of pumpkins!!!

I happened to have the most wonderful hemp

accented by a thin gold thread to use on them too!

These three have been listed in my Etsy store if you want to take a look :)

This entire year or even longer really, I've just NOT been buying magazines like I used to.

But in the last few weeks I've discovered a few that I just HAD to have!!!

I wanted to show you the covers, I'm sorry...no peeks inside,

but thumb through them at the store to see if you think they're wonderful too!

OH....and what else have I been up to?

Just making beautiful soap!!!

We just finished a large order of Breast Cancer Awareness soap

for a wonderful customer of ours...

and we are finishing up a ton of robins egg blue soap for a baby shower too!

If you'd like to visit our little soap shop just

CLICK HERE!

Thank you always, always for stopping by to see what I'm up to!!!

I cherish your comments and love that you visit here ~

Wishing you a beautiful Tuesday sweet friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

Using the stem stash!

After having these wonderful pumpkin stems tucked away for a few years,

I am SO glad that I'm finally actually using them!

I only have a few more left and hope to end up using each and every one.

I made this trio a few days ago and then pulled out an old sewing machine drawer

that I have had for YEARS...and created a sweet display.

I packed old pattern tissue all in the bottom of the drawer and topped it with

natural colored excelsior that resembles straw.

Then I just tucked the three little frosted pumpkins inside!

This piece is already sold but I had to share it with you ~

I've been busy for DAYS cleaning up the house

as my mom and dad came into town yesterday.

Dad always brings his tool belt and

is ready for my little list of handy-man projects...

this time he bought me a wood screened door and hug it on the studio door!!

It keeps the cats out (yes, I'm very particular about my stuff)

and plus it allows for great air circulation too!

I love it so much, I'll be sure to share a photo soon too.

We also had sweet Clara over to spend the night this past weekend and

had such a fun time visiting with her.

She and I ended up making glass magnets

together and I think she really enjoyed it!

Here's the angel holding her work:

I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend ~

Ours was very low key and relaxing, just the way I like it!

(Except for the cleaning...)

Wishing you a beautiful Thursday precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

They simply belong together ~

I finished two more little pumpkins!!!

The first one is about 6" in diameter and these last two

are 5" and 4" in diameter...

I grouped them together on an old plate

and just knew they should be sold together!

I thought I'd share a couple of photos with you ~

the real stems really make them wonderful.

I've have them listed all together in my Etsy shop!

This afternoon I was starting dinner and

I noticed a little something outside the window.

It seems the shadows are getting a bit longer....

the sky is a little less hazy but crisper and a clearer blue.

It's still pretty hot here but we've had some cool mornings

that hold the promise of fall!!!

Happy Wednesday dear friends ~

hugs and love,

Dawn

Using the stash ~

If you only knew what I have crammed up in this studio!!

But I finally decided to use some amazing real pumpkin stems

that my sweet friend Lisa and her children collected for me a few years ago.

SO, I created a fabric pumpkin!

No, this one's not made with luxurious velvet fabric you normally see
but a beautiful, textured cotton.
I decided to paint it after I stuffed it with poly pellets and polyfil.

I just thought it would give it much more body
plus I could brush on a little matt gel medium here and there
over the paint to sprinkle on a little "frost" or crystal clear glitter :)

I even added a little "frost" to the stem!

I love this little guy...he looks big but is about 6" in diameter.

Of course I had to add a sweet bird tag tied with hemp cord that

worked beautifully into tendrils!!!

This sweetie is listed now in my Etsy shop if you want to see more ~

I'm still wondering if I should make more...just look at the stems I have!!!!

I have to share this precious photo of our granddaughter Clara.

She absolutely LOVES kindergarten!!!

Her mama took this pic last week one morning before leaving for school ~

she's such an angel baby.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend sweet friends ~

hugs and love,

Dawn