Primitive Snowman Stockings

It has been a cold one today. Barely made it into the 40's. But at least the sun was out part of the day. They are saying snow on Monday!!

So anyway...I finished up these stockings today and will have them for sale in my etsy shop tonight. Love the little snowman with his blowing in the breeze scarf. hehe

That's about all for now. I need to get working on a custom order! Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

Vintage Look Bottle Brush Trees Tutorial

Here's something you might want to give a try this holiday season! Make your own bottle brush trees! I found this how to, from Cathe's blog, Just Something You Made.

Here's what you need to get started:

Vise, tabletop or clamp type

wire 22 gauge

scissors

wire cutters

ruler

glue

Sisal twine

pencil

mica flakes

Cut 4- 4" pieces of the twine and unravel them all until you get a pile of them.

Cut a 20" piece of wire and fold in half. Make a loop on the end by wrapping it around a pencil a couple of times.

Put glue on both pieces of your wire and lay your pile of twine on one side and lay the other side of the glued wire on top. Your twine is going to be sandwiched in between the wires. Twist a little bit on each end.

Let your glue get a little tacky and then put the ends of your wires in the vise.

Begin twisting and twisting until it looks like the whole wire has been twisted nice and tight.

Take out of the vise and give your tree a haircut!

Now brush your tree with glue and sprinkle heavily with mica flakes.

Trim your wire on both ends of the tree and hot glue your tree into a piece of a sliced tree branch. I used a hand drill with a small bit to make a hole in the wood. Then decorate with tiny ornaments! Have fun making your trees!!

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Letting everyone know that I made a pattern for my Santa Doll that I made and sold a few weeks back. I will get the pattern on Pattern Mart later tonight, and have a link to it over on my right side bar when it's ready.

Just a Little Bird Watching

Filled up my bird feeders today and set up my camera on the tripod and got some awesome shots of some of the birds today. Just thought it looked pretty out in my backyard with the yellow leaves just about ready to fall. Most of all the other trees have lost their leaves.

Mr. Cardinal on a perfect Fall day

He looks like he is saying, I see you taking my picture. :)

Looks like the Junco's are back in town. You know winter is almost here when they arrive.

I think Nuthatch's are the most cutest birds along with the wren. I love the little honking sound that nuthatch's make and how they go up and down the side of the tree upside down.

Tufted Titmouse. Had a hard time getting a picture of him. They are so fast!

Mr. Chickadee is very hungry.

And Mr. Black squirrel having a snack. Oh those pesky squirrels. Gotta love them.

Sparkly Primitive Snowmen and Christmas Doves

I'm not liking day light savings time at all. It's dark so much earlier now. I so look forward to the days getting longer after Winter Solstice on Dec. 21.

I'm so enjoying all the pictures from others that visited the Simple Goods Show this weekend. I so wish every year that I could go. I'm thankful to those that post pictures.

So finished up these snowmen and christmas doves. They will be listed later in my etsy shop tonight. I used mica flakes on both of them. It's been awhile since I used the flakes. I'm almost out of the german glass glitter, so had to use what I had. I think they turned out pretty good. To me they remind me of the old christmas ornaments that grandma had.

                    

Well that's about it for now. Everyone have a wonderful Sunday evening! Now time to relax!!

Yummy Crockpot Stew for a Chilly Day

I just love cooking in my crock pot! Found this recipe in our local paper last week and thought I would give it a try. This is what's for dinner tonight!

Beef and Beer Stew

1 pound of bacon, cut into pieces

2 pounds of beef stew meat

1/2 cup of flour, lightly seasoned with salt and pepper

2 large carrots, peeled and diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

8 ounces of fresh or canned mushrooms

1 12ounce bottle of stout beer. You may also use 1 1/2 cups of red wine

1 bay leaf

Salt and pepper to taste

2 large potatoes diced

Half of a large onion, diced

Cook bacon until just crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon pieces, leaving the drippings in the skillet and keeping heated over medium heat. Reserved the bacon for another use.

Place the beef cubes in a large bowl and sprinkle with seasoned flour. Toss to coat beef cubes lightly with the flour.

Working in batches, brown the beef cubes on all sides in the bacon drippings. Remove to the slow cooker.

In the same skillet, saute the onions,carrots, mushrooms and garlic until just lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker.

Add the beer or wine, bay leaf, salt and pepper to the slow cooker and stir. Cover and cook for 7 to 9 hours on the low setting (or 4 hours on the high setting)

This recipe didn't call for potatoes but I added them about 2 hours before serving.

The original recipe calls for serving over cooked noodles or rice or garlic mashed potatoes.

I made up this crow from one of my old patterns yesterday and he is now for sale in my etsy shop. It's been awhile since I've made anything to do with crows and he was always one of my good sellers.

And....I have my Santa Moon Ornies pattern finished for those of you who wanted a pattern!! It's for sale at patternmart, with which I have a link to, over on my right side bar at the top and also in my etsy shop. Will also get it listed for sale in my website.

Happy November!

Another month has come and gone! Can hardly believe that Christmas is just around the corner! The months and years just fly by anymore. Well...here are a couple new items just finished up to list in my etsy shop tonight. These Crescent Moon Santa's were fun and easy to make! I'm having to much fun needle felting sheep's wool. :)
I will be working on a pattern for these whimsical Santa ornies soon!

And here is a new napping kitty pincushion made with one of my older patterns.