1, 2, 3 little mermaids

e was very into mermaids last summer.  so into them in fact, we had to have a golden pink princess mermaid birthday party (sharing a party with big princess sis who turned 20 on the 20th)  i had wanted to get these mermaid dolls done then but life happened.  

i think part of the slow process was that i wanted to make a doll and then a mermaid skirt.  but turns out the girls didnt want legs.  if only i would learn to ask, it would save me headache & time.  e wanted her mermaid green.  

p wanted hers with the multi colored minky fleece.  i dont recommend trying to make your mermaid from this.  it just wasnt as much fun as regular fleece.  

and since t couldnt really tell me she got the next girly fleece scrap that i had left.  i embroidered each girls eye color.  (it was hard to get p's dark green and e's hazel) 

i love how the hair turned out.  i used 4 different yarns and some silver ribbon that i had left over from another project.  the different colors and textures make it seem like they are underwater, hair moving with the currents of the ocean.  

late heart day decor

so a few weeks ago, nebraska was blessed by storm kayla.  it wasnt the most snow that i have seen, but the wind was CRAZY!!!  thank God that part only lasted for a day.  we had a monster drift/pile across the majority of the driveway.  we are very lucky to have awesome neighbors!  so since i was prepared to be stuck at home for a few days (who doesnt love a good snow day???) i got some of my craft projects completed.  

i know it isnt the best lighting picture, but i love how this one shows what it looked like outside.  this was the ONLY window we could see out of.  the rest were all covered in snow.  somewhere out there is my driveway, under at least 4' of snow.  i did a quick and cute valentine's bunting to hang up in the picture window.  i love the lace. 

this was a pinterest idea.  she had used old window trim.  i happen to have an old barn door lying around.  it was again super easy to do-hardest was getting the nails out so that i could use the wood.  just measure, mark & cut.  then determine placement of boards, carefully flip one up, glue and just in case add a few nails.  then i cut old scrap boards & nailed them to the back of the smaller squares so that i could have my heart 'o's-one cause they needed some support to stand & two cause the big silver heart below broke in half.  free hand a little heart, fill it in with some paint & your done.  i really like how they turned out.  also gave me an idea for a christmas gift.....

car trash

life with kids is messy!  especially 4 kids.  (well 5 if you count my hubby)  i keep hoping that they are like me & like stuff organized & clean..... but maybe that happens later in life, when they dont live with me anymore:(  so in trying to help with the clean part in our vehicles, i made these quick & easy trash cans.  i changed my initial thought of putting boning in the top binding for some support in keeping it open.  i used a stiffer duck cotton (left over from my grocery bags) and didnt think it was needed.  but if i change my mind all i have to do is rip a small hole in a seam & slide some in.  kids seemed to think they were pretty cool, maybe they will get used.

the best grocery bags

mom and i are known in our hometown grocery sore for our bags.  many moons ago mom made denim grocery bags to cut down on the paper bags that we got at each visit to the store.  every time there is a new bagger at the grocery store, the same cashier that has always worked there, says "no she has her own bag, just like her mom."  mom made me two after i got married and unfortunately, i lost one.  so i made another.  but now i have two vehicles.  and would forget to grab my bags.  and i really dislike having to make 10 trips with the plastic bags.  with the addition of these, i now have four grocery bags.  i love that i can usually get a WHOLE shopping cart in two bags.  depending on who packs them and if they listen when i say 'load them up.'  for better stability we have always had a board on the bottom.  they fold/roll up nice and flat so that i can store them under the front seat when not in use.  

car kick covers

with all the beautiful nice weather we have had the past few day (and in the forecast for the next few) thought this post would be fitting.  a friend saw this on facebook, saying i should make them.  i said, "you get me the fabric, i'll make them" i am glad that we have similar vehicles, so that i didnt have to bug her for measurements. 

 the site i looked at for ideas used elastic around the top and bottom.  i know that eventually elastic will loose its stretchyness and when i make i make to last.  so i used d rings and velcro.  i also remembered having an issue with a prior vehicle where the seat belt was attached in a funny spot and elastic didnt work.  

glad i got them to her before it got real muddy out!

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

 i just love greenery in my old wash tub.  and this sled has many memories of winters from many years ago.  including chipping my tooth.

peeking at the spruce trees thru our weeping willow covered in some of the thickest frost i have ever seen.

i also love pictures when you can catch the snow falling.  someday i want to do family pictures on a beautiful snowy day.  

and now for the craft portion.  i made this winter bunting the other night.  it was SO easy.  the hardest part was doing a bit of math to get the correct length for some drape.  trust me 10" will be perfect (i thought it should be 16" too much)  i used my pinking blade on my rotary cutter on the triangles & did a simple zigzag on the sides.  i then cut a strip about 1/2 to 3/4" wide of the left over burlap i had from the table runner.  i zigzaged on 1 side of that to help stop the fraying.  i then kept with the same zigzag to attach my triangles.  tied a knot in both ends and hung it up.  

christmas 5 of ???? (i think this is the last of them)

this might be my favorite gift that i made this year.  this beautiful burlap and lace table runner was for my sister in law.  i am pretty sure that it was my plan 'b', but i dont remember what plan 'a' was.  the hardest part was finding the right lacy trim.  wonder what r thought if she saw my mother in law measuring her table.  

this is what the runner looked like on her table for a christmas dinner they had.  made my day to hear that she loved it!