~wire wrapped ring~

 I love organic, primitive looking jewelry.

This ring was totally made by accident while

I was trying to make another ring, getting

directions from my Mom on how to do it.

I learned that my Mom is really not good

at directing me thru a project. She told me I needed

36 inches of wire to start with.......for one ring! 

Once we realized it was waaaayyyyyy

too much wire, I snipped off the excess and

just started bending and wrapping it around the

ring mandrel. This is what I ended up with:

           I've been wearing it everyday since.....

I love it. 

(Pretend my hands don't look so old and dry in this picture.)

The "real" ring we were trying to make........

.........HIDEOUS!

It stands about an inch off my finger.

I am NOT exaggerating either.

I don't know why I don't have a picture of it.  

I've got lots of wire projects in the works.

Well.....not actually "in the works".

It's more accurate to say that I have lots of

wire projects in my head and on my list.

We'll see how many of them I actually get to.

I'm not busting my ass this year to get things done.

I'm tired.       

~gift for the writer or journaler~

For those of you looking for inexpensive but

meaningful and useful gift ideas this holiday

season, I think this is a good one for the

person who journals.     

  

This little journal was a gift I gave my son's

teacher for her wedding last month. 

I don't know her very well and I don't 

know how she decorates so I felt this was

a safe gift. I figured even if she doesn't journal

she could use it for a notebook in her purse 

or household. Luckily-she loved it and said

she does journal. I received a very nice journal

from a dear friend for my 30th birthday

and to this day it's been one of my favorite gifts.

How are y'all coming along with your

Christmas shopping? Do you have a ton

of projects to finish? I have a fair amount

to bust out.....most seem like they should

be simple but things tend to take longer

than I anticipate. It's mostly jewelry that

needs made-thank heavens it's something

I LOVE to do. I never tire of making jewelry.

I especially love to make jewelry pieces

for those I love.....I like to put a little 

personal touch into each piece.

Next up I'll be sharing a ring I made (by accident)

and a necklace that someone made 

especially for me :)

The most time consuming of my projects.....

photo books and calendars.

I love making them but they are sooooo

time consuming.

However, worth every single minute put into them.

If anyone knows of any free photo book offers

right now-LET ME KNOW! 

Usually I find some before now and I still

haven't seen any this holiday season.

                   

         

~girls quiet book~

 I can hear choirs singing as I post this....

the quiet book is done and gifted.

It was a big hit. My little lady loves it.

I am pleased with the overall result but I feel

like it's not as good or detailed as the other

quiet books I've made in the past. My Mom

reminded me that in the past when I made the

other 2 quiet books, I wasn't chasing around

a 2 year old. TRUE! Good news is,

I made this so that I can add pages to it as

time allows. What you see here is just the

beginning pages. I already have ideas for

pages I will add to it. Lots of pictures here so 

I'm going to get on with it. 

   

the book is bigger than the last girl's quiet book

I did. It measures about 9 X 12. I really like how

my son can throw other stuff in with his quiet book

in the bag so I decided to go with a bag for this one too

rather than handles on the actual book.  

Here's the bag:

 Messenger style made with vintage denim.        

 The book fits in nice and snug but leaves 

enough room for additional books or gadgets.

 The front: 

 I used these round binder clips to hold it together.

I thought it needed a little fancying up so I 

added the bow to each clip. These are her little hands.

 The first page is balloons that spell her name.

She can take them off and put them back on.

 The next page is filled with shapes for her to match up.

 This page is a cookie jar filled with cookies.

 OREOS and chocolate chip cookies of course.

 This is her favorite page.

Make-up and a mirror......she LOVES this!

 I made the make-up with lids to lift up.

I used clear plastic material for the lid.

I wanted it to seem real to her. 

 I made a make-up bag to hold the brushes and felt

lipstick and mascara. I also threw a real chapstick 

and some hair clips in there.

 I attached a ring and some clip on earrings I made

onto the page with the hand held mirror and comb. 

I'm sure you've guessed by now that my little

lady loves to play dress up.

 

 Here is the front of the mirror.

I made it with a plastic mirror and very thick

Pelon in between the felt layers.

I put her name on the back of the mirror. 

 This was the easiest page:

 A puzzle to put together.

I put a little dab of Velcro on each puzzle piece.

Velcro sticks to felt for those of you who don't know.

I also did this with another puzzle and put it in 

a ziploc baggie to go in the big bag.   

 I like the way this page turned out too:

 An apple tree with apples and a bucket on one side

and the clothesline with little clothespins and 

felt clothes on the other page.

 I always put a big pocket in my quiet books to

put stickers, paper, crayons, etc. in

I made this pocket with some vintage corduroy I have. 

 I filled it with these things....all found at the dollar store.

 To close it I attached some ribbon to the front and back

covers and tied it off. That holds it together enough

to keep the goodies in it. 

I'm so glad I finished it on time and that it's loved.

 I feel bad it's not as 

great as my son's but I'm hoping as time

goes on and she gets a little older and

can play with more things (without breaking them)

I will add some really cute pages to this.

My son still plays with his and I feel that these

quiet books are going to be one of those

"special toys" that my kids will keep and cherish....

even when they are too old to play with them.

Maybe give to their kids one day :) 

I still have some of the special things my momma

made for me growing up;

a purse, a doll, doll clothes, a doll carry-all,

my first school bag, a graduation dress 

(that I never wore-I feel so bad about this!),

I should show you some of this handmade love.

It's what inspires me to do these things for my kids.

I remember how special it made me feel

when my Mom made me stuff.  

I'm going to dig it out.

Now that I've shared this I can get on with some other 

projects......AT LAST!    

To see my son's quiet book click (here).

To see the other girl's quiet book I made click (here).