Merry

Christmas!

Raising the totem..

 

This past weekend I had the privilege to go to the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh for the unveiling of their new Tlingit totem pole The Hunt.  Carved by Tommy Joseph.  This summer when I was in Alaska I had the chance to meet Tommy Joseph at his shop in Sitka and we talked about the totem he would be carving for the museum.  So it was great to get there and see him unveil the finished project!

 This is Tommy telling the story of The Hunt and about working on the pole!

And this is a close up of Raven on the bottom of the pole!

A little more fruity....

 Here are a few more tiny fruits destined for some barrettes. And I changed it up and added ice cream this time.

Now mind you I am not a mint chocolate chip fan but it is a pretty to look at ice cream!

Merry Friday before Christmas!  And remember when the holiday has you down, God sent his son to save you!

A little fruity....

I've been coming up with ideas for small quick and cheaper craft show items... this is my newest creation.  Tiny crochet hook, embroidery thread, and wal-la tiny fruit.  I just love anything fruit and veggie related.  These are done in pairs and will be put on barrettes.  How cute will they be in a little girls ( or big girls) hair!

A few cards....

I needed three cards for a gift that we got for a few people that really had nothing to give with it.  We purchased flocks of baby chicks from Samaritans Purse.  You make a donation and a flock of chicks are given to a family in need somewhere around the world.  The chicks are used for income and food.

Little chicken I stamped on the inside!

Harbor Scarf

Took on this project to see if I could duplicate something someone saw online and do it for less cash!  Well I'd say I was a success!  Scarf looks almost identical and cost about half the price!

The buttons are made from coconut and I just love the way they look and feel!  It's true you can find anything on etsy!

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

 I've been on a crochet kick lately... and I've decided that I'm going to make a ton of snow flakes to have ready for craft shows next winter... Great big year long goal!

 This little red one is adorable I just love the heart pattern.

 

 A pretty purple beauty!

 

And not a snow flake but a pretty star for a friend of mine who really loves stars!

The only problem I've been having is when I stiffen them up.  There is extra hanging on around the shapes when it dries and it looks gross!  And ideas on who to make that stop?

T-Shirt Time

So I've been eying up all the cool projects out there with t-shirt yarn and thought well I have a huge pile of t-shirts that I was going to donate but hey why not make my own yarn out of them.  So I found a tutorial for making my own continuous yarn and got at it.  I made several of these balls of yarn and it was super easy.

 

 My crafty area is red, white, and black.  So I decided to use those colors to start a project for my room.  I haven't decided if I'm going to continue it on into a rug, or create one of those cool floor poufs ottoman things.  But here is the progress I've made so far.  The only downfall so far is that the plastic hook and the yarn make a grating squeaky noise when you are crocheting with it.

 

 

And when you cut the hem off of the bottom of the t-shirts it makes a great kitty scarf!  Here is my pretty girl Zoe sporting her red scarf!

 

Beading Bliss

This summer when I was in Yakutat Alaska on a mission trip we visited a small gift shop called Hummingbird Beads and Gifts.  While there I picked up this bead kit.  I used to be many long years ago and wanted to get into something a bit more involved and this kit really appealed to me.

 

 I just started on it a couple weeks ago and here is the finished beading.  Well not quite finished but all the main beading is done until I decide what I'm going to do with it!  I just love the colors and how it turned out.

If you are interested in one of these great kits and want to support a small artist shop visit Hummingbird Beads and Gifts

In a snap.....

 

A friend and I recently spent a weekend away scrapbooking.  It's been so long since I've been to a crop and I was super excited about it.  I decided that I would tackle one project in an attempt to limit the amount of stuff I had to bring with me.  I decided that I would work with the We R Memory Keepers pocket pages and the new Simple Stories Say Cheese line.  

 Boy am I glad I chose that combination.  I was able to finish our whole Disney trip from 2013 in one weekend.  That is unheard of.  I will most certainly be using these pages again.  I can't believe I finished in one weekend... that has never happened for me before.  

I added a few pages here so you can see that they look great as well as being easy.  I would recommend some of these pages and these papers (which come in all styles) to anyone!  I was actually able to start on my Christmas cards as well, which you got to see in yesterdays post.

Thanks for looking.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas.

 

Here is a sample of my Christmas cards for this year.  Two slight variations based on available supplies... different ribbons and two different colored gems.  Haven't yet chose my sentiment stamp for the inside but I'm sure I already have something in my stash.

Shrooms!

 Every fall we get these awesome mushrooms in our yard.  I just love them and take tons of photos of them.   This year they popped up right after I got my new camera, so I think these are the best shots I've taken yet.

Pretty from the top down!  

And this one on eye level of the shrooms, with the dew on the grass.  Now my old point and shoot never would have captured this just like I wanted it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Yum, Yum, Yum

Buffalo Chicken Meatball Subs.

 

I love chicken, in every which way, but my husband not so much.  The poor guy puts up with how much I cook it, but I am always looking for new ways to spice it up for him.

I buy ground chicken and make it into meatballs, I bake them in the oven till golden brown and cooked through.  While they are cooking I whip up a bechamel sauce, which i then add hot sauce and ranch to, too kick up the flavor.  When the meatballs are done I put them in the sauce then put three in a bun.  I try to get the buns to stand up on the cookie sheet, so when I put the cheese on top it gets nice and meltly and the tops of the buns get crispy brown.  Then I put them in the oven with the broiler on and this is the finished product.  They have been a big hit with our family and a few of my sons friends who have tried them.

Sugar and Spice

 

One of my new creations.  A three piece frame set for a little girls room.  I stamped the girls from Prima stamps, and then paper pieced their clothes and colored with copics.

 Here is sweet blond Sugar.

 Sassy red head and in the middle.

And last but not least brunette Spice.

You'll find these sweet ladies on my Etsy shop!  Feel free to request a custom order if you'd like them in another color scheme!

Appley Goodness

So as happens at this time of year I am over flowing on apples.  So I decided instead of pie I'd try some apple won tons, I'd been seeing them all over pinterest, and they looked super yummy!

 I tried folding these little guys up a couple different ways and these two are my favorite.  Of course with my new camera I also had to have a Food Network type photo shoot with these little guys.

This way is super cute.  First I just cooked down some apples into pie filling, filled the little won ton shells (be careful too much filling and kabloom).  Then I baked them in the oven and sprinkled them with cinnamon and sugar when they came out.  I thought they tasted great when they were hot and fresh out of the oven, as they cooled they got a little funky and were not as enjoyable.

The gall some people have....

 Well some people have them and some don't.  I parted with my gallbladder about a year and a half ago.  And well recovery was rough, but the little guy had to go.  As part of my surgery prep I made myself a little stuffy version of my gallbladder.  I decided to go with a happy approach and not think to much about how much trouble that guy was giving me.  

He's so peaceful now.  Need one of your own or as a great gift for someone... check out my etsy shop!

Singing on Sunday...

Well since yesterday I posted a CC video that made me happy I thought today I'd go back to where it all started.  My love affair with Counting Crows and Mr. Jones.  The first time I heard it I was gripped by it, and headed straight to the store to bring home the cd (yes cd I'm at least that old).  And I've been buying every album since and I'm just as entranced with them today as I was back then.

I love my name!

 I'll admit I love to see my name places or hear people say it.  I'm not one of these people who grew up hating on my name... it fits me and it makes me HAPPY!  So when Counting Crows(one of my favorites) did a cover of Amie (incorrect spelling is okay here) I was in love. Click the link below to give it a listen.

It's the little things....

SQUIRRELS

Yup it's the little things that make me happy! I love squirrels I love that you can find them anywhere and everywhere.  They always make my day brighter.  Like I said before Happy is a choice... and it doesn't have to be a hard force yourself choice, look for the little things, and you'll be surprised at how much they can change your outlook!

Today's be happy note comes from prolific french writer Voltaire (1694-1778).  Even in his day when he was writing pamphlets, letters, and books, and many of them in protest of certain religious subjects, he still knew that being happy is better!

Happy...

Make the right choice!

I have noticed a problem with people lately.  They can be so unhappy.  They just cannot see the good things around them and choose to focus only on the negative.  I want that to change, and I think that happiness can be a choice.

I mean some days we get out of bed in a bad mood, or other people put us in a bad mood.  Whatever the reason for feeling, sad, unhappy, or just plain blah we do have a choice in the matter. It's often as simple as noticing the beautiful clouds, or just changing your thought pattern*. Some people only want to bring others down, and are so enmeshed in their own unhappiness that they cannot see any other way to be.  But please make simple little steps everyday to choosing happiness.  It's amazing how much your outlook will change, when you change to see the better.

Now of course it's easy to be happy in the happiest place on earth!  And when you are with an old beloved character, and well you might be a Disney princess.  But you can always have a little bit of that with you everyday.

* Disclaimer:  I know that there are those of us who are suffering from anxiety, depression, or other medical conditions.  I get that, please see someone who can help you.  Those conditions are real and make it incredibly hard to choose happiness, but with treatment it can be an option for all of us.

Bagging it!

So the other day cruising through Pinterest, I found a blog link to make these adorable little box bags. The link to the pattern and directions is here: Three Bears Blog.  She gives great instructions and plenty of pictures to get you through.  I'm a pretty new sewer and I whipped out six of these in one day.

 Recently I spent two weeks in South East Alaska with a group called F.O.S.E.A. (Friends of South East Alaska) on a mission trip.  While there I found these wonderful batik fabrics in a small quilt shop in Sitka.  Once I saw the pattern for these bags I knew this fabric would be perfect for the little bags.

This one is my favorite and it's going to my BF who also went on the trip.  She had a wild encounter with a halibut on a fishing trip we took and I thought maybe she'd like a little reminder to remember that she conquered that fish.

Here is the inside of the bag.  I made a few adjustments to the pattern from the blog.  I added fusible web and adhered muslin to the back of the fabric to give the bag more stability.  I also added the little tabs on the side with key rings so you can hang this bag on the outside of a purse, or attach your keys to it. I'll be keeping one for myself and the other will go off to other members of the F.O.S.E.A. Posse. 

For more info on F.O.S.E.A. check out their facebook page here: F.O.S.E.A.

Welcome to Imagination Droppings

Welcome to Imagination Droppings!

On this blog you'll find me showcasing the things that I create in my daily life.  I have so many ideas for crafty/creative/artsy ideas, and I want to share them with the creative world.  I'll also admit some of these droppings will be for sale on my Etsy shop.  But a lot will also be just things I create on a day to day basis. 

The apple change purses about are for sale in my Etsy shop.  They are hand crocheted in cotton yarn, and zippers are hand stitched in.  The purses are about 4 1/2" high and great for keeping change or other small items corralled in your purse.  I think these would also make great gifts for the special teacher in your child's life.

Thanks for stopping by!