New items!

Well, I still have not finished my next pattern, because I have been working hard on making things for a spring show next month and getting ready for a vintage show in April.  I got hubs to help me out on an item that I have had in my mind for a long time.  Last summer when my sister-in-law was here, we were discussing antiques that we wish we still had.  I said that I regretted not having any of those glass insulators that I used to see everywhere.  So, lucky for me, she sent me, not one, not two, but four boxes of insulators. 

This is our first attempt, but I have so many more ideas scurrying around my little brain.......

Also some wreaths;

A mason jar hanging:

And a bird house.  I found this birdhouse at the thrift store.....dirty, in pretty bad shape.  But solid.  So I tore off all the grapevine, cleaned and sanded it.  And added my own embellishments.....Voila!  

And February is birthday month for me and my good friend Dawn showered me with gifts.  I love this arrangement that now proudly rests on my Hoosier cabinet.  

Well, I am off to work on my pattern and watch Dr. Phil.  Have a good week, my peeps!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, my peeps!  Hope 2018 is going well for you and yours.  I like to use this time for weeding out, cleaning up, and creating.  My studio has become an "after Christmas sale hoard" so today I vow to get to cleaning.

I'm working on a few things.....some pillows.....got them embroidered, just have to assemble.  Some aprons....holiday ones from panels...gotta finish them up and try to make them special.  And finally....I am finishing up a new doll pattern.  Hopefully, I will have by the end of the week.  I have had some decent Etsy sales this past week, mostly supplies.  I need to get more of my vintage listed.  There is a link on the sidebar to my new shop:  The Raggedy Peddler.  I have applied for a show in March so I had better get that vintage stuff inventoried and finished up.

I also have been working on a few wreaths.  My friend Dawn helped me out with some floral and I did pretty well with it over the holidays.....though I am certainly no Dawn!  Here is one of my latest creations:

Have a good week my friends!

Brooms, not for sweeping

I bought a couple of brooms at the thrift store.  I love these during the fall, to hang on the door.  They are so simple.  You can also buy brooms at craft stores in the fall as well.

 I thought the broom with the black handle looked a bit more elegant than the other one, so I chose an organdy orange and black wired ribbon for this one, a burlap print for the other.  To make the bows, and you know I love me a great bow, start by deciding how large you want the bow.  Wrap the bow back and forth as shown.

 You will want to get it pretty thick, like below so your bow is nice and full.

 Cut triangles into the bow, on each outer edge in the approximate middle.  Sorry the pic doesn't do it justice.  > <  Just make sure of two things.  Don't cut all the way through and don't use your good fabric scissors on wired ribbon!

 Cut a piece of the ribbon about six or eight inches long and roll it together, making it thinner and stronger.

 Tie the rolled ribbon into the > <  tightly.  Then one by one, pull apart the bow and twist as you separate.  You will get a big fluffy ribbon in no time at all.

 Elegant:

Rustic:

Practice making bows and you will get so good at it, you will find yourself putting them everywhere.  And your holiday packages will be the envy of the book club!

Tutorial Tuesday

This is a really short tutorial today on how to make this beautiful rustic garland.

Very simply, you need to purchase the lights (strand of 20 at Dollar Tree is $1) and weave in to a strand of garland.  They have garland at the dollar store, but this is some that I had on hand after purchasing after Christmas last year.  I think I paid around a dollar for it, but it was too large, so I cut it in half.  Next, I added these cute little bells that I purchased at Dollar Tree, 12/$1.  So it took two packs.  They come in silver and gold tone, but I wanted to make it rustic so I painted with a brown primer.  When dry, I used a needle nosed pliers and punched a hole in the back big enough to fit over the mini lights.

Just be careful not to make the hole too large, or it will fall off the lightbulb.  (If that happens, just add a little glue to hold it on)

Just slide over the bulb and there you have it.  This could also be done on a wreath, or you could rag tie a garland on a strand of lights (more on this later) or you could leave in the original finish.  Maybe add glitter to the bells before putting on the lights.  The possibilities are endless!  This would look great on a mantle, sideboard or down the center of your table.  Have fun with this!