Back From Vacation!

Well...we are finally back home after spring break. We had loads of fun in Alabama, but it sure is nice to get back home. I took a few photos while we were there and thought that I would share. The below picture is of my childhood home where my parents still live. It is a wonderful old home build in the 1920s.

Above: this is a picture of my in-laws barn. I love that barn and think that it just oozes "farmness". They don't have any farm animals, but they do garden and their yard is just beautiful. You can see the purple martin houses in the picture also.

Above: This is the view from their side yard. I just love it out in the country.

Above: My mother-in-law's roses.

Above: Her irises. They are just gorgeous.

Above: My little dog "Pip" enjoying the sunshine and grass.

Above: Another view of their barn.

Above: This is the view from their front porch. It is so peaceful and quiet.

 We are all sinners and by God's sovereign Grace and Mercy we are saved from the wrath that we all deserve! Jesus is risen! Forgiving our sins by the blood that was shed.

Happy Easter, everyone!!!

Holly

Hey There!

Hey! Thanks for stopping by today. I have been very busy this past week and a half. I made some Tooth Keepsake Clothespin Dolls for D#2's Preschool Bake/Craft Sale. It is tomorrow and the weather forecast looks terrible. 20 mph and up winds, lots of rain and thunderstorms, all of this before 2pm. I am not sure what they are going to do if that rain moves in. The whole town is involved with the yard sale. D#2's preschool is located in a tiny little town right in the middle of our big town. Just think of it like a little circle inside of a big circle, that's exactly what it is like. Son's Boy Scouts are also involve, but the leader just called and the Scouts are canceling theirs. They have it at another leader's house in this tiny little town. I will take pictures of this amazing little town and blog about it this summer. It is so adorable. The houses are amazing.

Above: I wanted to use a color other than pink, which I love or red, I also love. I thought that the colors on the fabric for the dress was so cute. I incorporated yellows and oranges onto the box. There is also red and aqua on her dress. Again I hand painted little teeth onto the top of the box.

Above: Little boy with red felt shirt and blue jean shorts.

Above: Bright colors, hand painted box and of course the doll is hand painted, also. The little tooth card comes with the doll. I wanted something that looked like a little book that a child might read. I think that it might be a little big.

Above: Sweet cat, Smokey, keeps me company while I work in my studio. He loves to knock over my paint brush water, chew on the brushes, eat my thread and drop things on the floor. But, he is a sweetie.

Above: Don't you just love this fabric. It is Bliss by Bonnie and Camile. I think that it is so fun! I am not sure what I am going to make, but it will have to be amazing, because this fabric is so cute!

Above: This fabric is for a secret project that I will share with everyone at the end of May.

Above: more secret project material.

Above: Fat quarters.

Have a wonderful rest of the day. Gotta go now and make a birthday card for my neighbor who is turning 80! Her party is in a couple of hours. She looks amazing and is still going full speed. I pray that I am like that when I am her age.

Holly

Flocking Torial

I now have the tutorial on "flocking" up. Go on over to Prims 'n Pins and check it out. I haven't blogged over there in a while, so I thought I would stick it over there.

Tangled and No Comb Around

Here's what I am working on tonight. D#2 has a birthday party to go to tomorrow and I like to think outside the box for a gift. I know most children have too many toys. I thought that a lap blanket would be so fun! D#2 picket out the Tangled blanket, from the movie and I monogramed the birthday girl's name on it with my sewing machine. We also picked out a small Tangled doll and princess flashlight. Of course I waited until the last minute to start it, but now it is finished. We will make the card tomorrow.

Above: Machine working like crazy.

Above: here is what the blanket looks like.

Above: finished product

Above: another clothespin keepsake doll. Her head is a little wonky (needs gluing) and a few other finishing touches to complete her.

Above: another tooth keepsake doll. I love the way her little box turned out. And I love these colors.

Above: this doll is on a square box. I really like how the box looks.

Thanks for looking and have a nice weekend, filled with crafty stuff,

Holly

School Mouse

Little School Mouse is now listed on Etsy. Go and take a peek. I finally finished her books and apple.

Above: Oh no....a little worm is tagging along to school.

Above: zoom in and see the little eyes and mouth. He is tiny 1/4" long. He reminds me of Wormy, Oscar the Grouch's worm. His was orange though.

Above: Little books. They are glued together, but the pages really did turn. I also glued the book strap on, I was afraid that it would get lost.

Above: She can also hold the books by the book strap.

Thanks for looking and may your day be filled with lots of sunshine!!

Holly

Wood, Paint and Fabric

Today I am going to share a custom order that I finished. These two "tooth keepsake dolls" are for sisters. The requested color was light purple. It has been a while since I have made any clothespin dolls. I had forgotten how much fun they are to make. I am now working on four more.

Above: First you start with some plain wooden: knobs, old fashion clothespins and stands and some naked teeth.

Above: Add a little paint and fabric and then ta-da.....

Above:...you get this!

Above: Don't they look like sisters? I hope the real sisters like them. They will now have somewhere to keep their lost tooth until the Tooth Fairy comes.

Hope everyone has an awesome day! My fingers are just itchin' to get out in the dirt and plant my garden, but I must wait a few more weeks. We are still having lows in the 30s.

Keep those fingers busy,

Holly

School Days, Golden Rule Days

My grandfather use to sing that song to us every time we would go and visit him during the summer. I couldn't stand for him to sing it, because that song was just a reminder that our time with them would be coming to an end soon and we would be traveling back home to start another year of school. The next mouse that I wanted to make was a little girl mouse going to school all dressed in her school uniform. Her head is needle felted from 100% wool fiber. Her arms, legs and body are made from wrapped wire.
Her skirt is black and white checked cotton fabric. Her blouse has a collar but it is hard to see. The little jacket is made out of 100% wool fabric with tiny pearl beads as buttons. She is wearing a headband/bow on her head. Her head is smaller than my normal mice. I am going to make her some books before I list her on Etsy. I thought that 2 tiny books would look so cute. Maybe an apple in her hand for the teacher?

 Above: On the right is Patrick Gnome, see how big his head is. On the left is....not sure what her name is yet, but for now I will call her little school girl. I made her jacket from some 100% wool fabric. This fabric made for a very realistic looking jacket. I really like how it turned out. You can't see the little felt collar that I made for her, but it is there. She is wearing little Mary Jane's on her feet with white stockings.

Above: clothes need straighting up, I had just finished her headband so I had messed her up a little.

Above: side view

Above: These are two commissioned tooth keeper dolls. They are for sisters. Their dresses will be a lavender check. I can't wait to finish them-the whole process of making these dolls is so much fun! I love designing them and seeing the finished product.

Have an AWESOME weekend and remember to keep those crafty fingers busy!

Holly