Staying very busy!!!

I promise I've been busy!!!!

I'm finishing up a few orders for dear friends and

will then start on some new goodies to sell ~

The post below is an older one but I just know you will love it!!!!

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When I've not been terribly productive over the weekend ~

I tend to look back at my past creativity, photographs and blog posts

to share with you and to inspire me too!

I have an inner desire to be creative ALL OF THE TIME ~

but being a wife, mama and mimi just doesn't afford me that luxury...

and truthfully, I would much rather have those blessings

that keep me from the studio

than to have all the time in the world to make stuff

A few photos that I love that I hope you do to!

Treasures:

I found this photo of my sweet little snow guys I made last year ~

these are from my little snowman tutorial!!!

A gorgeous sunrise ~ I have so loved living here at the farmhouse!

 Our tree last year....I hope our tree will be just as pretty this year!!!

One of my little mittens ~

Here's my first little elf shoe too!!!

Happy Thursday precious friends ~

hugs and love,

Dawn

Little creations ~

I just love using my printer to create things!

Having been a graphic designer in the past I also

have a love for wonderful typefaces ~

I printed these out on an 8 1/2 x 11" piece of 67# creme cover stock

and used a scalloped punch to create sweet little tags!

And I FINALLY finished all of my sweet mitten ornaments...

they will soon be on their way to their new homes.

I always have the hardest time selecting just the right button for each ornament!!

Each one is beautifully vintage too ~

I so hope my customer is pleased...

I have a few candy cup orders that I've neglected so those are next in line and then

maybe a few bottle brush trees or how about a snowman??!!

This is such a wonderful time of year for creating these sweet little things!!!

I hope you have a great Monday dear friends ~

hugs and love,

Dawn

In my little workshop...

Lately I've been a busy bee here in my little studio!

Mostly with things that you've already seen here on my blog...

Some folks don't really want to make my tutorial projects themselves

and place orders for me to make them.

I'm really so very thankful too!!

Every little bit helps me buy Christmas goodies for my family ~

Can you tell what my latest order is for???

Yes, sweet mitten ornaments!

I just received the latest Folk magazine in the mail the other day

and really LOVE IT!!!

It's one of those that the front is a cover for half the magazine and then

you turn the magazine and the back is a cover as well for the other half of the magazine,

each half having wonderful features, articles, Christmas ideas and more ~

I thought I'd share a few photos of the inside to tempt you!

I think you should be able to find it at Barnes & Noble very soon.

Even the ad pages are beautiful!!!

And so, back to work I go....

candy cups and mittens are waiting!!!

Wishing you a beautiful November Friday sweet friends ~

hugs and love,

Dawn

Sweet ornaments for you to create...

I do hope you don't mind this little repeat but they really are so sweet!!!

You do not have to have a sewing machine...they can easily be hand-stitched

or even glued with Fabri-tac!!!

Here are my instructions for my age-old mitten ornaments.....

I thought that I'd share with you

how I make these sweet little mitten ornaments.

I love the look that they have,

a little aged with a dusting of snow.

First, I cut the mitten shape from a double layer of cotton batting -

it has a beautiful creamy color to it.

And then I sew around the outer edge with a 1/4" seam allowance

leaving the end open.

(You can even hand sew this!)

Clip the area between the thumb and the mitten

close to the stitching.

Then turn it right side out.

I used pinking shears on the edge of the mitten, too.

For the next step, I threaded my needle

and gathered across where the wrist

would be and pulled slightly.

Then I tied a knot to hold the gathering.

Next, I cut a small length of ribbon

and wrapped it around the gathered wrist area

and looped it through itself

and took a small stitch through it to hold it.

Then I added a snippet of lace on top of the ribbon

and took one stitch through it as well.

I added about three vintage buttons,

stitching each one on . . .

And tied it off inside the mitten.

You may not choose to do this step,

but as you know I love old things so 

I sprayed some instant coffee onto the mittens

to give them an aged look.

Don't worry, if you spray too much

you can blot with a paper towel

to absorb some of the coffee.

Next, I paint little wisps of glue here and there

(Elmer's is just fine)

and sprinkle clear glitter to give the look of snow.

And last but not least,
I will sew on a little loop on the outer top edge
of the mitten with button & carpet thread
to hang on the Christmas tree!
(This step isn't pictured)


Here is the pattern...simply click on it to enlarge it.
Open it up in your photo editing program on your computer
and there you can size it whatever size you desire!

Well, I hope this was easy enough to understand
and please let me know if you make any,
I'd love to see them!

xxoo, Dawn

A new day!

Don't you just love a fresh week???

And a brand new day is such a gift!!

Makes me so thankful ~

I had such a busy weekend but nothing that would be blog-worthy...

I painted the laundry room ~ whoo hoo!

It's looks so fresh and clean now and I just love it

but believe me, it's not worth taking pics and posting!

But I do love that I finally got it finished.

We've been here at the farmhouse for almost two years now

and it was one of the rooms I didn't get to before we moved in.

We recently had a new hot water heater installed and I had to

totally clean the laundry room out so it was the perfect

opportunity for me to get the paint job finished.

So today I would love to share a few random prints, photos and thoughts with you ~

A precious old photo of friends...sisters...no matter, it's wonderful!

Another beautiful fall pic I took a few years ago...

I love the sun peeking through the leaves.

A photo of one of my favorite old clocks and a few old faces...don't you love the graphics?

My gorgeous Limoges china my dear husband gave me one Christmas...

it is so incredibly delicate,

you truly can see straight through it when held up to the window ~

I've always loved this old photograph ~ isn't she beautiful?

I wanted to remind you about my free tutorials...

they are listed with links in my left side bar, up toward the top of my blog ~

Now's the time to get started on these wonderful but oh-so-easy projects!!!

My free mitten ornament tutorial...

And how about rag ball ornaments? You can use old calico fabrics...

Or even simple strips of cream muslin for a beautiful neutral look!

I hope you don't mind my crazy post sweet friends ~

Wishing you a wonderful, fresh and new Monday!!!

Much love and hugs,

Dawn