More Ornaments!!

I really love fall! All the delicious treats, spending time with family and friends, all of the decorations! I'm not all to fond of the frigid cold though. It shouldn't be this cold in central Texas! 

However the cold has also given me the opportunity to get a lot of my crafting for christmas done! Here are some of the ornaments I have been making. 

 I made this one for my mother. We started a Christmas ornament exchange for the girls in our family and I got my mothers name. It's my own design to!

 I have just this year started making purple ornaments, and really only when someone asks for them.

 The blue ones are new too!

Sick Days

Sick days have some pros and some serious cons. Some pros: you get to stay at home (hopefully), you get to watch movies all day, you can catch up on some crafts (if you are a craft person of course!), depending on the illness you get soup or sherbet, sleeping in, lots of nice warm blankets, and no school. Some serious cons: your sick! Aches and pains, fevers, chills, sore throats, runny noses. 

For me I ache in every joint and muscle I have, and I have a really bad head ache. In spite of all that, I still like sick days because I don't have to do school and I can catch up on my crafts! 

Needle felting

So my latest project has been needle felting! I recently found some pictures on Pinterest of some needle felted pieces and decided I wanted to learn how to do it myself. So I got on YouTube and started looking at some tutorials. (Must of which are very helpful!) And before I went into the hospital last Friday my mom and I went to Hobby Lobby to get some things to decorate with, also picking up some felting supplies! The rest if the day was then spent on reading and embarking on this newest crafting adventure. (Sadly I did not do my school that day and am now making up all the work from two days of not doing school...) 

Here are the finished products!

In order it is my pumpkin gnome, my wise old gnome, and my fairy.

Missouri

I love Missouri. Part of that love is due to the fact that I lived there until five years ago. I was born and lived in the four state area until I was ten or eleven. I lived in a town where you knew almost everyone, and if you didn't know them then they knew who you belonged to. Most of the neighborhoods are quiet and family friendly. Now I'm not saying it is perfect, but it certainly was (and still is) a nice place to grow up! 

The trees are beautiful in the fall! and the flowers are gorgeous in the spring. But fall is probably my favorite time of the year in Missouri. It's still a little to early to be seeing a lot of change in the leaves color, but there are a few trees that have started to change. In October there is a wonderful parade and festival on the Square. The Deli on the Square makes the best Cherry Limeades on the planet!

Also in the Four-State Area you can drive half an hour in any direction and be in Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, or an hour to Branson Mo. We spent a lot of time in Arkansas when I was a little girl. We would go to the Lewis and Clark stores because the had rock walls you could climb for free, and with eight kids that was an easy and affordable thing to do. We also loved to go hiking. it isn't as enjoyable for me now because I have to wear oxygen and even then I can't keep my heart rate down or stay out of breath. But I used to love it! We went to all of the nature parks in the Four-State Area. Our favorite places to go was George Washington Carver National Monument and Devils Den, Arkansas. George Washington Carver National Monument was only about twenty minutes from my home and they were normally doing some fun activity. They would have you plant peanuts, or make corn husk dolls, or candles. It was always a fun, educational experience. Whereas Devils Den has very well kept trails. They have one trail that has at least three caves on it. (That was the one we took the most I think.) The deepest and darkest of these caves is called the Devils Icebox. It gets quite cold when you get down into it. The last time I was there, however, I think the had closed the caves for an indefinite time because of an illness the bats were contracting. 

Beach fun!

I love the beach! It's so relaxing. You don't really have to do anything you don't want to. You get to sleep as much as you want. And you feel fantastic!

I had so much fun with my brothers the first day we were all there! Sadly they had to leave that evening... But it was nice to be able to spend time with them. Nick and I made a sandcastle for a small crab that tried to crawl under my foot, and Connors girlfriend Ashley and I had the opportunity to tease him mercilessly. There was a lot of sleeping and wading in the surf and doing nothing after the boys left. It was very relaxing.

The day before we came home we went out to dinner and I was so proud of myself. I tried breaded asparagus with crab on top. It was actually quite good. (I'm not a very adventurous eater...). And then we met a very playful dog at the beach. It was very cute but it was also a biter. And then its owner was angry with it. It's name was Riley.

Going to the beach

Going to the beach is one of my favorite family excursions. We have been going to the beach ever since I was a baby. In the past five years we have gone at least once a year. We normally try to go multiple times in the summer, but this year it hasn't happened to work out for us to go before now.

This is going to be a particularly fun trip because today two of my brothers, one with his fiancée and one with his girlfriend, and my dad were able to come for the day! 

Today is going to be a good day!

Homecoming Mum

Today I got to make my very first Homecoming Mum. One of my friends was hosting an event at Dell Children's Hospital that I helped with.

When she found out that I haven't every had a mum for homecoming she decided I had to have one.

This is the finished product!!

More Frienship Bracelets

I have been (sadly) neglecting my blog recently. It doesn't help that my computer is being persnickety again. But that can't be helped. although with school starting back up its really going to be a nuisance if it keeps acting up like it has been.

But anyway... Enough with my computer problems! Lets get down to the fun stuff!

I find it so funny that I am doing things that anyone could do and yet people are always so amazed that I do it and enjoy it. I know not everyone is gifted in the same areas as I am, some are better with people, some with writing (definitely not my strong suit...), but it still amazes me.  


I have been in a friendship bracelet making mood of late. I don't know why, buts almost to the point of an obsession. (which isn't good because I need to make Christmas ornaments!) Here are some pictures of some of the bracelets I have been making.

This is another Autoimmune Awareness bracelet. I made this for a friend of mine that is on a council at the hospital that I go to. The purple, along with being the overall autoimmune color, also stands for Ulcerative Colitis. The yellow/red stands for Erythromelalgia. (I hope that is how you spell that.)

This one doesn't have a meaning, I just liked the pattern. It kind of reminds me of Atlantis or the Greeks. (But mostly Atlantis.)

 

 

Mod-Podge

Mod-Podge is a fun and easy craft. All you need is paper or fabric and something to glue it to. You can either use Mod-Podge brand glue or make your own with Elmer's glue and water. I use the matte finish Mod-Podge brand glue.

 

This was the very first thing I made with Mod-Podge. One of my friends loves to introduce me to new crafts and this is the one she had for me that day.

I did this at the hospital. The pictures were from a Vogue magazine. I haven't ever seen Anna Karenina, but I loved those dresses.

I made this yesterday. It is a handkerchief box. 

Friendship Bracelet's

Friendship bracelets seem to play a role in almost every girls childhood. You exchange bracelets that you've made (or that you bought) with your friends and then you can either wear them or stick them in a jewelry box for safe keeping. But most girls will at one point or another receive and give a friend a bracelet.

I have never been very good at weaving friendship bracelets. I would try and try, but I could never get them to work out unless they were two strands of thread. You can only do so much with two strands of thread...  So this week I decided I was going to master the art of making friendship bracelets. 

This is how it turned out...

The bracelet that is more wide is an Autoimmune Awareness bracelet. Purple is the unofficial Autoimmune color, purple and blue stand for Mixed-connective Tissue Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis, and the periwinkle is for Sjogrins Syndrome.

Succulents

Succulents are fascinating plants. They are like cacti without the spines, which is good for me because I don't have to watch my mum every time she walks in my room. (She always thinks cacti look soft, not prickly. and wants to touch them.) They don't require copious amounts of water, another plus because I always forget. And they are intriguing to look at. 

I have been growing succulents for about 18 months and I find them captivating. I started out with only one Split Rock(Pleiospilos nelii) and one Hens and Chicks. However my Split Rock died recently. So my mother and I went to Lowe's because she needed some fillers for her gardens outside and I needed new succulents. 

In this pot I have a Split Rock in the middle, and starting from the front and going around to the right is a Sand Rose(Anacompseros rufescent), a Hen and Chicks, Baby Toes(Fenestraria aurantiaca), another Sand Rose, and the last in this pot is the Stone Faces(Lithops species). 

In this pot I have a Split Rock, Baby Toes, and Stone Faces int the front. In the back I have a Kalanchoe Houghton's Hybrid. I'm really hoping that it will survive. It wasn't root bound when I got it and that seems to an essential part to its survival. So we put a root mix in its dirt and we will see how it goes!

New Cupcakes

I was going to write something yesterday, but as my computer hasn't been wanting to work until this morning, today will have to do. It will also have to be fairly short and sweet (if sweet is possible on a morning like this) because I am going to have to leave for the hospital soon.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to expand my cupcake repertoire by making a new flavor! My mother was having a Garden Club meeting at our house, so I was asked to make the cupcakes. I don't as yet have a flour sifter, so I used an orange flavored cake mix. I've been told they taste delicious.

Although I can not make my cupcakes from scratch I do make my  frosting from scratch. I used one whole squeezed orange to give it a nice citrus flavor. (I would suggest that you put the citrus juice in before you put all the cream in, so it doesn't get to soft and crystalized to hold the form from your frosting tip.)

All in all, I think they turned out well.

Thrift Store Treasures

While my best friend was here visiting from Missouri, along with going swimming a lot, we also went shopping. Of course two teenage girls who haven't seen each other in months would want to go shopping! While on one of our shopping expeditions, we went to a thrift store in the town where I live. We looked through the clothes. We looked at the shoes. But not finding anything I couldn't live without, I went and looked at the house wares section. And that was when I found it. A 1969, second printing Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. 

I couldn't believe my luck in finding one in such good condition. I immediately went to my mother because it was only $10. I was so happy because now I have one for my hope chest. 

Also while at the thrift store I found some small linen cloths. They were such a unique size that I had to get them to find out what they were. 

They are 5 1/2 in. by 8 1/2 in. and there are 6 of them. One of the women from my church has just told me that they are cocktail napkins. I have found this week that there are just about every size of napkin. There are tea napkins, lunch napkins, dinner napkins and now cocktail napkins. 
However since I am to young to drink cocktails, I will have to find some other use for them. I might possibly put them in the crazy quilt that I am working on. 

A Stormy Winter Scene

This morning I woke up with a splitting head ache and every muscle, bone, and joint that I have ached. But instead of laying in bed and bemoaning my suffering, I decided that I was going to do something not exactly useful, but not idle either. So after my mother and I went swimming I started painting.

Although it was a very hot day in Texas today, I decided to paint a winter scene. Maybe it was because it was so hot in Texas that I painted it in winter.

Because my Grandparents own a dairy farm in the Midwest, I am quite partial to barns. And who doesn't love a red barn! 

Proverbs 31:10-31

"Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates."

Aren't these beautiful words to live up too? It offers a beautiful description of what a godly wife and mother should be. Although this scene is from the ancient Far East, the principles still apply today. With spiritual and practical wisdom as well as moral virtues, a woman will receive more respect and affection than she will receive from charm and beauty alone. She will be loved by her family and friends, she will be respected by the community. Her diligence will make her prosperous. It is true when it says "her worth is far above rubies."

An Introduction

I am fairly new to blogging and am not sure what to say.
My name is Julia, and I love to make things. I love to make baby hats and baby shoes and baby dresses. I love to tat Christmas ornaments and doilies. I love to sew just about anything.

Tatted Baby Boots

Christmas Ornaments

Cakes that I have made!

These are a few of the things I have made! I hope you enjoy them!