Handmade Stockings and A New Way to Hang Them

I'm linking up with Donna"s Saturday Night Special Click below to see lots or creative and inspiring stuff.

click here

I made these stockings a few years ago out of two differently textured upholstery cottons. Then I found these cute little rusty ornaments at Michael's for $.99 and tied a different one on to each stocking so everyone knows who's is who's.

I got this idea from my brother and cannot take the credit, but I love this idea, it is simple and it is worth sharing.

I never wanted to place those stocking holders on my mantle for fear that an innocent toddler might get hit on the head by a cast iron object or crack a hearth tile or damage my wood floors. So every year I actually place nails in my mantle and then touch up in the new year - if I get to it.

So this year I bought this curtain rod which was white, painted it with Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint (thanks Cindy for the tip), added a few curtain clips and then attached it to the underside of my fireplace surround. I like the way it looks and I might just keep it up all year.

I've been working on some new stockings for this year - out of sweaters of course! My to do list was just too long and sadly they all didn't get done - but I thought I'd show them to you anyhow.

Thanks for hosting Donna!

And Merry Christmas.

Beautiful Holiday Entertaining Ideas!

I have a bit of time on my hands lately as I seem to have put my back out! Having this happen right before Christmas is extremely unfortunate timing and I am unable to do anything. Really! After a few days of watching the laundry pile up, and the dust bunnies, kids socks, and toys collect all over the house I have now resigned myself to the fact there is nothing I can do about it. (No point even watching my home deteriorate before my very eyes.)

My hubby has sent me to bed and has rigged up my Imac bedside - now I can waste away my time in cyberspace.

So after much surfing I have found a few retro goodies for your holiday entertaining. These ideas are simple and can be easily executed with things you have on hand such as tin foil!

(You may Thank me later!) I hope you enjoy!

Check out this beautiful tin foil snowman centerpiece! Lovingly decorated with candy canes and lollipops. And what could be hiding inside those foil balls? Could it be Swedish meatballs, or perhaps they are mini jiffy pop popcorn surprises? My best guess is a chocolaty treat made with colored mini marshmallows and crispy chow mien noodles. Yum!

(Has anyone ever had those as kid?)

I love this idea for it's simple beauty. What better way to put out flatware for your guest than to creatively lay them out in the shape of a festive Christmas tree! Your guest will be talking about this one!

Why not leave the good china in the cabinet, forget about the environment, and start a new tradition this year by going completely disposable!

Did you know that you can finish up the look of your styrofoam plates and disposable plastic tumblers by simply placing a real glass plate or saucer beneath it? Use real metal flatware for an elegant touch. And the tinfoil angel sets the stage for an evening of festivities and fun.

For your next cookie exchange leave the cellophane and ribbon behind, these lovely take away foil serving dishes are where it's at this year. Plus you can say, "I made it myself!"

Ok, so I've had a little too much time on my hands........ but we've come a long way though haven't we?

Thank you - from me and my Christmas tree!

I have been having so much fun snooping around from blog to blog checking out all the amazing ideas out there. It only gets better when you actually remember those great ideas, and get the chance to put a few of them to good use. I really like the way my tree turned out this year and I can't take any credit for it - I have many of you to thank!

Inspired by Donna at Funky Junk Interiors - she has the greatest ideas. Love the burlap garland and the use of these old lanterns I found at the local thrift store. Thanks Donna for both of these great ideas, I smile every time I look at my tree!

Thanks to Ashley from Shanty2Chic, I love the way these little snow filled ornaments turned out - you are truly a genius!

I saw a designer on TV the other day put signs on her tree and that inspired me too. I put up this sweet little angel sign that I had for years and didn't know how to work into my decor.

An old chalk board went on as well. Once I actually find the chalk I might get my daughter to write a note to Santa on it , or a maybe a countdown to Christmas - we'll see.

I am now on the hunt for some old silver picture frames and I thought I might put old christmas photos of the kids in them and hang them on the tree as well.

Notice that you can't see the top of the tree in the photo - this tree is still a work in progress I suppose.

Thanks again sharing your great ideas with the world so me and my tree may enjoy them.

Sweater Happy Birthday Bunting

I thought I'd find a greener way to decorate for the many family birthday celebrations that happen in our house each year!

I decided to make a reusable Happy Birthday bunting from old sweaters and some old mens shirts.

I ironed on some fusible interfacing to the back of a some scraps cut from old men's shirts.

Then I typed the words "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" on my computer, selected a font and enlarged it to the size I wanted. I printed the letters out, cut them out and used them as a template to cut the letters out of fabric.

I cut out triangles out of old wool sweaters then stitched the letters on with embroidery floss.

I found a woolen looking binding tape at our local fabric store

then stitched all my triangles to it.

A new tradition of having this banner hang at each and every birthday celebration has begun!

(I suspect one day the kids will be fighting over who gets to keep it - maybe I'll make a few more - some day...)

I'm linking up to Cindy's "I made it for Monday" party at www.cottageinstincts@blogspot.com.

Happy American Thanksgiving Everyone!

It is a tradition to say what you are thankful for each Thanksgiving, and even though our Canadian Thanksgiving has come and gone I feel the urge to partake with my new American friends in blog land!

I am so very thankful for all your kindness, words of encouragement, helpful hints, understanding. You inspire me daily (too many times to count), silly as this sounds you have enriched my life.

Thank you for the blessings you give me and have a Blessed Thanksgiving with your families!

PS. Canadian Friends - This applies to you also.

Peace

The Good, Bad and the Ugly!

As you probably already know I love to scour garage sales, flea markets and thrift stores. Some times I bring home these things and display them so nicely and then it happens..... the doubt creeps in and I start to question myself! I begin to hear voices in my head......

Is this good?

Or is this so ugly that it's good?

Or is this just plain ugly?

Maybe it was never good and that's why it was in this garage sale in the first

place. So why am I now bringing this stuff into my home now?

Lately I've been on less of a junk kick and more of a retro kick. Here are a few of my new retro bits around my home. For some they're here to stay and others their days maybe numbered!

Some I have no doubt about, others I seriously question.

See if you can decipher which is which!

Everyone knows you have to put your coolest things into your glass cupboard,

I change this regularly.

Right now I have this silver retro canister set that I picked up for a buck,

an old Corningware "Cornflower" coffee perk (this actually makes really good coffee),

some blue Fireking mugs that I just found at the local thrift shop,

and my grandmother's old mixing bowl.

This is a picture of my Grandfather, he was at a carnival and that is a wooden painting of plane he posed behind for a photo.

A Brownie Hawkeye for $3!

OK, this is pretty new but it has a retro feel don't ya think?

This light fixture is from Pottery Barn Kids and it hangs above my kitchen table.

Again, I'm thinking retro!

This retro phone is probably the best purchase I made for our home and one of the thing I love most in our house. Maybe this sounds really silly, but I love the way it sounds when it rings, I love the really long cord that gets all tangled and twisted up while I walk around the kitchen.

And I also love the fact that it never gets lost,

I never have to look for it,

it never runs out of battery power,

and I never have to look at an ugly docking cradle on my kitchen counter.

I'm linking up to Donna's anything goes party!

Thanks for hosting Donna!

When Life Gives You Stuff - Make Stuffies!

I'm linking this post to Cindy's at Cottage Instincts "I made it with what I had Party".

Actually, we (my daughter and I) made it with what we had.

You may have seen these little creatures on a previous post, if you have then you already know their story ....

My funny little creative nine year old daughter always wants to do something crafty. Last weekend she drew this sweet little puppy and told me that she wanted to make a stuffed puppy that looked like it had been loved for years and she wanted it to looked like a crazy old lady that couldn't see very well made it! She is a funny one! Looks like she like likes things with a soul to them too!

She went through my scraps of fabric and buttons and here is the results!

I absolutely adore this little guy and think this is the most brilliant design ever!

Isn't this sweet? We'll keep this one forever!

My son put an order in for a monster so I made him out of some old sweaters I had.

Then I made this little rag doll out of my daughters old clothes and the body and head is made out of an old wool blanket. Total cost for all three stuffies - a big fat zero! (Cuz' we made it with what we had!)

End result - priceless!!!!

We've been busy!!

We finally got Halloween behind us, then I spent an entire day organizing my attic of it's sweater collections, boxes of thrifty finds, old kids toys and outgrown kids clothes. Every year I sell what I can at a local Kids Swap.

I love getting rid of stuff

almost as much as I like collecting it!

That is a bit weird, even I have to admit!

I listed a few things on ebay, and then spent a day cleaning house.

There is nothing better than a clean house to make you want to break out the crafts!

So we started sewing - just my daughter and I.

I made a doll from her old clothes, an old wool blanket, and some felted wool sweaters.

My daughter came up with a design for the cutest stuffed dog that I ever did see! I actually think it is brilliant! I love how the tail is off to the side. So sweet!

Her original design.

She's really funny, she said

"I want this dog to look like it has belonged to someone for a really long time,

and to look like a crazy old lady that couldn't see very well made it."

I think that is sooo funny and I think she actually achieved that!

My middle boy (for lack of a better description) put an order in for a monster - and I did not want to disappoint!

My youngest says that he scares the nightmares away - that's pretty cute!

His name is now Mr. Monster.

I often find her cuddled up with her youngest brother as I did last night, and I was touched to see that she had given her new creation to him to cuddle for the night.

The weekend was a success!

Sweet, nightmare free dreams precious children.

Happy Halloween!

I promised to post more Halloween decorations so here they are!

My homemade wreath!

I actually mildly electricuted myself on this project - not sure if it was worth the effort!

It's safe now.

I took these old lanterns out of my garage sale bin and decided to paint spider webs on them,

glued on a few spiders, added a mason jar with a candle inside! I like how these turned out. Though they look better in person.

This candle stick was a thrift store find. It was hunter green with old rose dried flowers and moss glued to it - which I removed and spray painted black. Then I bought these old photos at a flea market for .25 cents a piece.

I hope that one day old photos of me don't end up in someone's Halloween display!

More old photos and another spray painted thrift store candelabra.

My daughter wanted to be a Realtor for Halloween(don't ask me why), she collected candy in a brief case! Too funny!

My middle guy is a parrot and the little one is a pirate!

I'm linking up to Donna's Funky Junk Saturday night party!

Click on this link to go there!

Saturday Nite Special #3 - anything goes!

Happy Halloween, everyone!