November 20, 2011

They're In The Mail...

I signed up for the Button Floozies Ornament Swap this year, and had so much fun making the ornies to mail to my three swap partners.

I decided that a Nutcracker theme might be fun, so I sorted through my machine embroidery designs and chose this one. I decided to embroider them onto canvas. Three Nutcrackers in a row...
My sister, Diana recently sent me a surprise care package. She found some gorgeous, vintage, crocheted doilies and wanted to share them with me. There were two that I knew would work perfectly for this project.
They were 3" in diameter, so I cut them in half and used each half to embellish the bottom of my nutcrackers. I sewed my parts together and then started hand sewing my vintage buttons along the bottom. The little blue ones were from my contemporary stock, but the rest are old.
I made one more, but that one is a little different from these. I'm going to send it back to Diana to thank her for all the goodies she gave me.

They're all on their way to new homes today. My swap work is done here. I'll be starting my Christmas projects now, and I promise to show you what I'm working on in the coming days and weeks.
This week is going to be full of family and celebrations, so I want to remind you early that next Monday is Memory Lane Monday. As you spend time reminiscing about holidays past, perhaps you'll write about one to share with us?

Just write the post on your blog and then link back to my Memory Lane Monday post. I'll be writing mine on Sunday evening so that you'll be able to link in plenty of time. The link will be active for one week, so if Sunday or Monday is too hectic for you, you can add your story at any time prior to the end of the week. I'm looking forward to sharing mine and hope you'll join me for another stroll down Memory Lane.
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November 19, 2011

Sunday Scripture...

"And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing,
and I will send down the showers in their season; 
they shall be showers of blessing."
- Ezekiel 34: 26
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November 18, 2011

My Newest Bead...

I know. You just never can tell what I'm going to write about, right? I love being a little unpredictable.

I recently purchased a new bead for my Troll bracelet. I found this Corgi bead on Etsy at NanjoDogz shop, and just had to have it! (By the way...She makes beads in other breeds, too. Just click on her shop name to she what she has available. If you don't see your breed, send her a message and ask.)
Nancy sculpted it from polymer clay, tinted it with just the right colors, and sealed it with varnish for protection.  It's lined with silver metal core so it slips nicely along my bracelet.
She even stamped a little paw print on the back. She also included care instructions. Unlike the glass beads, the clay beads shouldn't be submerged in water.

Other than that, her instructions to treat it with TLC really weren't necessary, because I'll treat it as carefully as each of the beautiful, handmade beads I've received from my dear friend, Marion. Marion even gave me the gorgeous silver acorn that always stays on my bracelet along with her paw print bead.
I think one of the cutest things about this little bead is that, if I look at it from just this angle, I even get the "Disapproving Corgi" look. It makes me smile every time.
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