Fun & Function...Win Win!

This is what I asked for for Christmas this year & I couldn't have been happier. No matter what pot holders have found their way into my kitchen over the last 20 or so years the only ones I use are the ones the kids made for me when they were little. The kids are adults now & as you can see from the photo below my old potholders are ready for retirement. Callan made a couple for her apartment, she made me one, I made a bunch & even Joseph couldn't resist and made one.

Marbleized Ornaments

Another fun & easy holiday project. All you need is plain glass ornaments, we got ours from Michaels art & craft store, acrylic paint & a few little dixi cups. We removed the top of the ornament, poured a little of each color we wanted to use in the neck of the ornament & swirled it around. Once we got the look & coverage we wanted then turn it upside down in a little dixi cup to drain the excess paint. After the paint is dry re-insert the top piece & your done! Easy Peasy!

Crafty Christmas with Callan

The day Callan was born I received a gift that lasts a lifetime. She moved into her first apartment in Manhattan this year so it's been an adjustment not having her around, she's so smart & sweet & incredibly talented but most of all she's still willing to be crafty with me! She came "home" for a few days to play with me so that was the best present this year, aside from the potholder loom & giant bag of loops but thats for another day! Here are the ready made porcelain ornaments from Michaels that we painted with paint markers, soooooo much fun to do!

Orange you glad......

This is my holiday card, I think it sums up the kind of year it's been!

Pysanky Christmas Past

The kids & I had great fun making these, I don't remember what year it was exactly but they were young. There were candles & hot wax & blowing eggs out involved & of coarse dye, breaking eggs, making a mess & lots of laughs, oh how I miss having little crafters around! I have to say I love all the eggs but I actually do have a favorite, the dollar sign one my son made, it really captured his personality at the time.

Shrinky Dink Christmas

The first time we made shrink art ornaments was in 1991 when Callan was 6 & Joe 4. In 1999 I came across some sheets of the plastic so we did it again. These are amongst my most treasured belongings!

Callan 1991

Callan 1991

Joe 1991

Callan 1999

Joe 1999

Rock O Lanterns

We sit atop a hill which is a drag to walk up but when the rains come we are happy to be "High & Dry". We were very fortunate that the only effect Hurricane Sandy had on us is we were without power for several days, not a week or 2 like a lot of people, or much worse like far too many people. Halloween was kind of a wash this year because of the storm so we didn't get to paint our "Rock O Lanterns" until Thanksgiving. As always lots to be thankful for.

The amazing David Oleski

At this years annual New Hope Art & Craft festival I saw for the first time David Oleski's awesome paintings. I love everything about his work.

Fall...Really what's the appeal?

I appreciate color probably more than the average person but having to wear extra layers because of the damp chill in the air to go out & see said color not to mention the fading daylight...Really what's the appeal? 170 day's until Spring

Fun with Filters

Last tomato of the summer

Today I ate my last garden tomato...I guess that means summer really is over...172 days until spring...but who's counting!

A spring, a spring, a marvelous thing!

Kiss Your Life.....

I saw this in an amazing shop called Zinc home & garden in Lambertville NJ & it made me stop & think & appreciate the moment, something not easy or often done these days!

Sunflowers & Butterflies..Win Win

I dug up a new section of my yard this summer specifically to plant sunflowers & it was so worth the effort!

Yarn Bombing in Frenchtown NJ

Today I discovered "Yarn Bombing" in Frenchtown New Jersey. Wikipedia - Yarn bombing, yarnbombing, yarnstorming, guerrilla knitting, urban knitting or graffiti knitting is a type of graffiti or street art that employs colorful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn or fibre rather than paint or chalk. How have I never heard of this before? Now I want to knit a little wrap for the tree in front of my house!

Serious Garden Gate Envy!

What can I say....If only.....

Like it was meant to be....

On a warm sunny day this past April a friend & I took a drive to the Jersey shore where I found the inspiration for my new house numbers. (bottom photo) Two weeks later I took a long drive to the Stormville Flea market in upstate NY & look what I found (middle Photo). A little paint & new rope & I couldn't be happier, it is as they say the little things in life!