Brrrrr

The view outside my front window on Monday.

We had quite a storm that lasted almost two days.  It wasn't all that significant in total inches, but it was constant and that means poor road conditions.

But not so bad that we didn't go out to get our Christmas tree! 

We are from Buffalo, remember? 

Coffee Filter Snow Ball Tutorial

 Love these puffs of stuff. 

Here I will show you how I did it.

Step One:  You can use Styrofoam balls, but since I didn't have any, I crumpled a stretch of yarn (two ends to create loop of yarn) into aluminum foil.  I found that adding two scrunched filters inside the foil made a bigger ball, and an easier base for attaching the folded filters.

Step Two:  Separate a whole mess of filters and fold them in half, then half again.  You can roll them or fold funky, it really doesn't matter.  Since I was making a bunch of these, I found it easiest to make my folds, then twist the bottom (where my fingers are in the above picture) so the folds stayed together, and keep folding. Once I had 20 or so folded, I would cut off the point and twist.  I was cutting basically where the ripples start on the filter.

Step Three:  Don't even try regular glue...you should use the glue gun.  Really.  While holding your yarn, add glue to the area right around where the yarn comes out of the foil ball.  Place your first cut filter on end into that glue.  Continue adding glue and filters.  Place close together, but don't go crazy...the foil showing through is kind of nice, a little glitz.

Step Five:  When you are done, you will have a ball that you think looks wonky.  Pull out your scissors, stand over the garbage can and trim.  It's amazing how great it will look after it's haircut.

Go ahead, try it!  It's fun.  I made five in 2-3 hours.

Stay tuned...I'm going to share another snowy craft...a new take on an old favorite.

Oh, Step Four...that's pour yourself some coffee or crack open a cold one...it'll be more fun that way.

My Bag for Tara

This is Musi.  I finished this purse a while back and since it was pink, I added "breast cancer" as one of my tags for folks to find it.

What happened next, well, I just think it was a sign.  A sign to think about others, a sign for me to think about how fortunate I am, and to meet someone that has gone through so much, and continues to be joyous about life.

In comes Tara.  Tara found my shop on Etsy because of the purse above and the 'breast cancer' tag.

I still don't really know what possessed me to use that tag.

Back to Tara.  Her message was this:  I am a three time breast cancer survivor and had a double mastectomy.  In January, I'm getting nipples and I'd like to celebrate that with a new purse from you of breasts.

Honestly, I thought it was a prank message at first.  Then, I thought 'Yes'.

I can do this.

And I did.

Through the process, Tara and I wrote notes about sizes, nipple colors, funny things Sam said as I was testing colors.  And in so doing, I came to look forward to the notes.

This became so much more than a custom request.  It became an outlet for me to use my talents to make a bad situation fun.

I can't imagine the conversations she will get into with this purse.

All I know is that it feels good.

It feels good to make someone else feel good.

This bag is limbo with the United States Post Office and I can't wait until she gets it.

And I can't wait for the feeling she'll have when she unwraps the purse.

And I can't wait to hear about her conversations with other women facing the same horrible cancer.

Thank you, Tara.

I may have made something for you, but you made me feel so much more.

December is Here

This is all we got.

Sam came running off the bus "MOM...I've been looking out the window all day at school today, just waiting. Waiting to play in all that snow.  I just couldn't work, I was staring at the snow all day."

Unfortunately...this is all we got.

Sam's cousins had so much they had a snow day.

Maybe tomorrow, Sam.

Maybe tomorrow.

A Month of Gratitude: Day Thirty

These boys.  That remind me that a good picture doesn't have to be perfect, and a good boy also need not be perfect.  I love my boys.  I love who they are.  I love what they are going to be and I love the struggles they hand me.  For if it weren't for struggles, then there would be no gratitude in getting through them.

Here ends the Month.

A Month of Gratitude: Day Twenty Nine

Grateful for success.  I work my butt off, sometimes falling asleep with a crochet hook in my hand.  But this one day of shipping makes it all worth it.  I have achieved success in my crafting life.

A Month of Gratitude: Day Twenty Eight

Grateful for the leftover gluten free pumpkin pie my Mother-in-Law made for me.

And grateful for cool-whip, but then again, who isn't?

A Month of Gratitude: Day Twenty Seven

Thankful for sons that enjoy playing together despite the 3 year age difference.

A Month of Gratitude: Day Twenty Six

 

 Grateful for a flexible family that doesn't see Thanksgiving as a Thursday event, but a time when we can all get together and relax.

A Month of Gratitude: Day Twenty Five

Grateful for a husband that vacuums before our guests arrive.  I love you, Tom.

A Month of Gratitude: Day Twenty Four

Today was a long day.  A long day without a photo op.  I've been fighting headaches for a couple weeks now, my doctor says it's the weather.  I have one right now, but this photo made me smile.

I am thankful for wool.  The wool that has traveled with me in the car, camping, to the doctor's offices, to the playground.  The comfort of the repetitive stitches gives my head a break and permission to get lost in the motion of the hook.

A Month of Gratitude: Day Twenty Three

Thankful for plants that can not only survive, yet thrive, after being neglected for months on end.  Slightly early for Christmas, but I am thankful for these tiny buds holding the promise of Spring.

A Month of Gratitude: Day Twenty Two

 

This lamp.  This lamp has been packed away since we moved back from Chicago.  All because of the fear of running boys and crashing lamps.

I am thankful I inherited it.  I am thankful for my Great Grandmother that owned it and loved it, just as I do.