Gifts, Giveways and Icicles!

Button icicles. Now you know what I was referring to! :) Long dangly 'icicles' made from vintage buttons, balanced with a bead at the bottom and a bow at the top. Perfect for the tree, but also so much fun to dangle around the house. Because some of the buttons are antique shell and glass, the icicles make a lovely twinkling sound when moved. I think they would be wonderful in front of an open window, blowing in the breeze. We can't do that up here in New England right now, but Ellie in Florida could! The icicle on the left uses approx. 20 white buttons that vary in size. Just dee-lish for a shabby chic decor or for a bit of whimsy. I

will be giving away two icicles to one of my lovely blogger friends. Just leave a comment.. but keep reading.. there's more! If you would like to make some for yourself, or as gifts they are super simple and a fun!

Once you secure a bead on string, (I used vintage pink embroidery floss.. but fishing line would work great too!) then you just sew on the buttons, using two holes. As they slide down the string, alternate the direction the buttons face and slide them together. They stack right up. Using a graduated size, gives an icicle look to them, but you could create garland by using random sizes or colors. They would be pretty swagged on a chandelier or hanging from a door knob. You can change the colors of the ribbon or buttons to match you home or the holidays. For buttons you can check out Kathy's Etsy shop, Button Constructions.

For those of you who would rather some crafty goodness to play with yourself I am also giving away a vintage style paper tissue basket filled with delights! Buttons, pink rick rack, Robbin's egg blue vintage seam binding ribbon, a antique skeleton key, paper flowers, etc..

Just leave a comment on this post and I'll enter you for the drawing. Let me know which item you would prefer, I will giving away a pair of icicles and the tissue basket of goodies, wrapped to perfection and given with love! I will draw numbers on Friday! Good luck!

♥ Abbie

*Below is a pic out my kitchen window. We got almost a foot of snow yesterday! This was taken about midday.. why am I making icicles for inside?? You'd think we have enough outside! I hope everyone is warm and I'd love to see WARM and COLORFUL pics on everyone's blogs!! It's cold and white here!

As some of you might have learned or heard through my ranting, I profess to be an 'artist'. Yet because of time restraints, children, etsy and home life, my art has definitely taken a backseat to everything else right now. For those of you who are curious you can view a sampling of my eclectic style by clicking the image below or on the left...

Knots and Bows..

Mary, over at the Little Red House had a fabulous post the other day with some dee-lish ideas for wrapping your holiday gifts. Now, I don't know about you, but whenever I try to tie even the simplest of bows it either comes out sideways or upside down. I did resort to tying all my gifts and little bundles for my shop upside down, but I knew there had to be a 'correct' way to tie a simple bow or knot. Well, I found it. (these were pulled from somewhere on the great Internet, I would give credit if I could remember from where) So, click on 'em, print these out and slip them in with your wrapping paper. They are invaluable when fumbling with bobbles, berries and beauties. The last thing you need to try to figure out, when the fake fruit and foliage is flying, is how to get your bow right side up.

♥ Enjoy!

The scribble on the knot sheet is courtesy of my two year old.. she likes to add her two cents whenever Momma's not looking. By the way, the day started with a cup of tea instead of Coke. (there is a penny soaking as I type.. just curious..)

My curtains are up!

Well, I finally had time to hang the insulated curtains and make the tie backs. I suppose they should be called 'pull' backs since they do not tie. ;) We have four windows in the hall between the garage and the house (which could be why its so cold in there all the time). This is the last hope at trying to keep the space warm this coming winter.

The construction was fairly simple (I didn't use a pattern) I measured the width and height of my windows, added inches to the top and bottom for seam allowance, and for rod pockets. I did not choose to make them very wide, as I wanted them to lay fairly flat when closed to help with insulation. (that is why there is not much gather to them) Also, the hall is narrow and we don't need billows of fabric to push past when going back and forth. (as well as the fabric would be more tempting for little hands to touch and pull).

I cut the insulating fabric (from Joann's) one inch narrower than the decorator fabric, so the pattern would wrap around to the inside slightly. Sewed the right sides together, in simple straight stitch from top to bottom. The top and bottom were sewn even (leaving a slight gap at one end to turn them right side out), I used a straight stitch to sew that opening closed.

There was some of the insulating fabric left for me to use for the rod pockets along the top. I left about a two inch gap, then stitched a two inch wide strip to the top of the curtains. If I did them again, I would make my rod pocket larger, as they don't slide very easily on the pole. But, I suppose, no pattern, you'll learn from your mistakes AFTER you make them. Not wanting to do it all over, they slide hard. I might try the metal clips with the metal rings at the top, I KNOW they would slide easily, but then again, our rods may be to mounted to close to the window casing for them.. we'll see. I used the left over scraps to sew simple tubes of fabric, and I have Velcro to screw them with. Tada! Not overly spectacular, but I estimate that I saved almost two hundred dollars by making them myself. Curtains are so very expensive, and all you really need to know how to do is a straight stitch and a few measurements. The little mistakes no one will ever notice.

On to a different topic.. My daughter has the most amazing eyes I think I have ever seen. They are almost black, yet she has blond hair. Very mysterious and wonderful! My eyes are a puke hazel brown, (not that hazel eyes are puke, just mine are) When she was born I thought I had given birth to snow white. she had a head of dark brown hair, black brown eyes and ruby red lips. Well, the hair has changed and the lips are usually in a snickery, mischievous grin, but the eyes are still black.

New curtains..

I spent the morning furiously sewing insulated curtains for our hallway that extends between the house and the garage. Even though the house is almost brand new, that small space just cannot keep the heat. So... insulated, full drapes are the last resort. Once they are hung, I'll post a pic.. The place in the ouse I get to use florals!! (the rest of our home is very NH/lodge/plaid/deer head/moose). Speaking of plaid furniture... look who enjoys it the most!

Martha is a 'Good Thing'...

Image from MarthaStewartCrafts

I found the most delightful pattern for Stawberry Pincushions from MarthaStewart.Com. Now that is a 'good thing'. I have been a huge fan of Martha and her ever growing empire for years. Her endurance and impecable taste just bewilder me. (and she has a FABULOUS staff that just keeps generating some neat little twists to old fashioned ideas!)