Stashbusting and stuff....

I was busy this weekend but looking back, got a lot of little crafty things done too.  

Matt was invited to an informational at Tulane so off we went.  It was great seeing the campus and learning more about the school.  Amazing professor to student ratio!  Afterwards, we ate at one of our favorite places....Superior Grill, where Dean and I enjoyed a margarita.




I started on a Halloween wreath awhile back, using some yarn in my stash.   I pulled it out today thinking I'd finish it.  I didn't get very far though as Suki decided it was the perfect place for a nap.  She would leave for a while and come back and go right back to sleep in it.  Three different times.  She was just too cute for me to disturb.

So instead, I worked on my Alice a bit......painting her face

...and the beloved white rabbit.  Well, PART of the white rabbit!

and a couple pincushions...

I also continued work on some Christmas goodies this month...

These washcoths are so soft and are the perfect used with a nice french milled soap.  

If you are interested in making some, here is the free pattern I used.  

I can't believe tomorrow is the first of October....the beginning of my favorite time of year!  I love Halloween and Christmas!!! 

Pinterest catch up.

I have been determined not to pin a kazillion things only to never try/use them.  That being said, it is time for some "pin catchup!"

I've tried a LOT of the cleaning ideas on pinterest and most of them I  like.  

Like this one about using baking soda on cook tops.  Totally worked.  I use baking soda anyway, just never tried it like this.  

Like this one about using vinegar instead of jet-dry.  Totally works.

This one for cleaning showers and tubs is terrific!

Both of these dog bone recipes were hits.  This one is peanut butter and banana.  This one is banana and honey.  The banana and honey one got harder, more like a real dog biscuit.  I made a double batch since I work and they lasted 2 weeks without turning.

Roasted broccoli....DA BOMB.  I am NEVER steaming broccoli again......seriously.  It is that good.

This chicken and cresent roll bake was a hit.

Here are a few I 'm not 100% sure about.

This one, where you make your own dishwashing powder.  It DOES work but after 10 or so washes, I noticed a haze on my glassware.  I switched back to my regular stuff and the haze disappeared.  I may try another recipe though because I like the idea...after I use up the other stuff I made.

Using just vinegar to wash your towels.  Yep, I tried it.  They come out soft and fluffy and smell great, just like the pin says.   Until they get wet.  Then they smell like vinegar.  Not, in your face awful....but I don't like the idea of my towel smelling like a pickle.  There are other pins where you only wash them in vinegar once a month.  I may try that next instead.

Make your own wet swiffer floor cloths.  Swiffer wet jet cloths are truly pricey so I decided to try this one.  I had diapers and velcro on hand...no cost out of pocket.  Look how pretty!

Okay, they DO work.  But oh.my.gosh.  My arms, shoulders and neck actually hurt while shoving this thing around.  It sticks to the floor too well!   
I am not totally ruling the idea out though.  Maybe I'll just combine working out with swiffering.  (hahaha.)

 I will say that they work better than the store bought pads....especially when you run along the edge of baseboards.  See...yuck!

 If you have a small area, then these are for you.  Or if you are the hulk...but I have a LOT of tile so I'm on the fence whether these are the best option for me.  I'll decide once my neck stops hurting.

Make your own wet jet refill.  I did what a few pinners did...cut a hole in the top.  Didn't work.  It all ran out the bottom.........don't know why.  (Truly, it makes no sense and I kept thinking I knocked something loose....)  I'm not giving up on this idea though.  I'm not keen on the swiffer scent anyway.  Next time I try, I'll do it like these ladies do and remove the cap.  Fabulouso, here I come.

White Wednesday....

Last week was homecoming for my kids.     My how times have changed.  Getting rolled is now a GOOD thing.....

And this goes beyond rolling....q tips are scattered, white plastic forks and knives are poked into the yard.  Luckily the main items are toilet paper and shaving cream.  (for sidewalks, not cars)

While Matt and Kaela were out rolling, some people came and did their rooms.   I probably had 20 kids in here at different times.  Potty breaks and water was needed.......Rolling is hard work!

One room....

and the other......

Instead of assessing "damage" the kids were out there making sure it looked "good" enough.  Of course, as they cleaned the yard, they took the tissue and rolled someone else's house with it.  At 1 am....with school the next day........

My, how times have changed!

They all pick "crews" their first year of high school and stay with that crew all 4 years.  The crews create t- shirts and logos. 
One crew posed...

another crew left evidence...
  

Between layers of tissue was shaving cream!

and to make SURE we knew who it was they used shaving cream on the curb.  Once washed away,  the note will last a few years.

I'm sure the kids would like to think they thought to put a positive spin on the "art" of rolling houses.  But something in my old marketing heart tells me it was the tp manufacturer's idea!

catching up

Since starting back to work, I've been really busy.    Lots of stuff going on with the family....like this past weekend's homecoming game and dance:

There were a lot of smiles going around Saturday night!

I've also been sewing little curtains for our classrooms.  We have long, skinny windows and these are perfect for keeping unwelcome viewers out.  Hard to see in the photo, but it has a little ribbon in the middle.  You just scrunch it up.    

Someone keeps interrupting my crochet work....

 pincushion prototypes.....

The head sits better than this but I squinched it down to show off the brain!

And trying my hand at paper clay......a zombie head....Can you tell?

I can't believe September is coming to a close.......I feel like it just got here! 

Zombies in Wonderland.

 I hosted my annual zombie doll swap again.  

My theme this year was "Zombies in Wonderland."  My partner requested Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. So I made these fellows for her.  Okay, so a fellow and a half. (well, SOMEONE had to win the argument...)
Dee's brain is exposed and Dum got the cute hat....

I jotted a quick poem to go with them.....

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum
Were bullies to the core.
They picked on people young and old
Whenever they got bored.

A sickly crow, lay on the road 
(poor bird, he took a header.)
But staying true to bully form,
They plucked out all his feathers.

Soon Tweedle Dee was feeling odd
And Tweedle Dum no better
It seems they caught the crow's disease
And now are
"Dead" and "Deader."


The End

As you can imagine, Deader is the guy that is just a head!  

The very next day,  one wicked Mad Hatter arrived in the mail for me!

Complete with Jabberwocky bone walking cane.  He only has one good eye and is missing a few fingers.........




I tell you, the detail on this doll is AMAZING and I am so lucky to have him.  I am getting ready to place him in my piano pumpkin patch this week!  Debbie is a doll artist, her work is amazing.  I am so lucky to have been the recipient of one of her creations!
Thank you Debbie! (click to go to her blog)

Nature's Glory....

Every morning, this wreath is covered with Morning Glory blooms......which couldn't make me happier!  I check on it daily and it just makes me smile.  People out walking always comment on how pretty it is.  I love it because it is so simply.  Just nature taking over, really.

I planted this vine 6 years ago.  It is a wild vine and almost too successful!  This year, I put the wreath out hoping for it to cover the wreath....and lucky for me, it did.  Believe me, that doesn't happen often!

Mosaic Monday

My first birdbath made from a terracotta saucer.  I gave this one to my dad many years ago....

little silhoutte

We saw this little gecko on our trellis the other night....I love how the light shines up through the leaf and illuminates it.......

ever present to some........

Please never let yourself forget......



Apparently some people already have.........so now we must remember those who died in the Benghazi attacks on 9 11 last year.   



To add insult to injury, these people knew what was coming and asked for help NUMEROUS times...but it never came.

Mosaic Monday

Another fish birdbath.....I love this goldfish with the big bubbles!

no need for pink.....

I'd be happy to have either set in my yard this season!

Mosaic Monday

A table top I made for a friend...just plain old crazy paving...

She used this next to her pool one night for a party, it was awesome!