August's stash busting!

Other than the yarn bombing, I didn't do much with my stash this month.   I got caught up in weeding and work!

I did manage to make a few coffee (hot cocoa) cozies though...

okay....so two more....

I have NO idea what got me on the coffee cozy craze (couldn't resist!) but I think it is because fall is right around the corner and I am SO READY for my morning hot cocoa fix!

hoooooo's ready?

Me!  I am sooooo ready for fall, my favorite time of year!

See?  I couldn't resist making this little wreath the other day.   I have it safely tucked away, awaiting the first cold snap so I can put it on the door!

a close up of the little hoooooo

Come on cool weather!

Mosaic Monday

I made a table top a couple years ago but decided to use the top in the yard instead. I put the stand in the garage and stared at it every time I got in and out of my car.  Finally, I decided to put it back in the yard.

After mulling over what I wanted, I sketched out this little design for the table...

then I got to work...

and ultimately created a new "top" and I have a sweet little table to put in the yard for Matt to mow around!

close up of the little bird...

I'm sure this little table will also hold a glass of wine from time to time....

Edited 8/27....so today I come online to post a new book I just read and I see my little Christian badge on the sidebar.  I never even realized that I sketched something out that looked almost like it.  Funny how your mind works.  And here I was thinking I was being all "original" and stuff!  HA! 

Themed tree.......

Each year as I take the Christmas tree down, I sigh and say I might do a themed tree NEXT year.
Well, this past January, I couldn't even get the WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH before Dean and Kaela started laughing and rolling their eyes.    Dean went so far as to bet me I wouldn't follow through.

Well, I may be a bit older but this Russell girl still likes a good challenge so I picked a theme and have been slowly collecting items since January.

The other day, I pulled some things together and started making a few things for the tree.  I made a few more birdie ladles....I can't resist the tinsel nests!

and a variety of birdhouses...some are paperboard and some are wooden.  All are small and covered in glitter!

These nests were bare until I pulled out my handy glue gun and sheet moss.  Again with the glitter.....just on the eggs though!

Dean is gonna LOSE this bet!

time comes around......

Funny how something can be used again...and again...

I made this outfit for Kaela for a school sock hop...in Texas

Which she wore the following year for Halloween...in Oklahoma

Which she wore seven years later for another sock hop...in Louisiana!

Same skirt....different girl....all grown up. *sigh*

yarn bomb!

I was invited to join a new crochet group back in May and I am so glad I did!   We've had such fun discussing projects and up coming events.  One evening we got to talking about yarn bombing and the owner of the coffee shop asked us to "bomb" her!

Of course, we said yes.  There were several of us working on it so it came together quickly.  Some of us crocheted, some knit, some did weaving, some sewed it around the poles.  Everyone pitched in.  We had husbands on ladders and children holding up ends, grabbing cameras and just helping out where needed.    It was so much fun putting it all together.

I made a long piece using bits and pieces....talk about a great de-stash project!

and out putting it up on the column...hot work, but fun!

how it looks now...

Melissa, the owner.  She was so excited seeing it all come together

the front 4 poles....

One of the girls crocheted a sign but she hasn't hung it yet, when she does I'll share that with another post.

We found out that this is the first place to be bombed in Slidell.....and yes, we are ready for round 2!

Mosaic Monday

I finished my last two stepping stones and am pleased with how they both turned out.

I love snails....just not in the garden, eating my veggies!   I put this one in a place that gets high "cut through" traffic so it gets used almost daily.

This one is in an area I walk on often when watering the garden and yard.   We don't have automatic sprinklers so I am constantly moving hoses on days that I water. I use these little stepping stones A LOT because they are in a bed right next to the water spigot....and I tend to go barefoot when watering the yard.

Here it is with the toadstool....

and the flowers I see every time I walk by are lovely as well...

 a little closer please.......

My last planned project this summer is for a new table top which I've already drawn out.  I hope to have it done for next Monday's post.