Butter Dish to Posh and Pretty Bird Feeder

So how does this silver butter dish and wooden candlestick become a Posh and Pretty Bird Feeder? Read on and I will share.

This is another one of those projects on my list, like the last post, and with a little drilling help from my man, I was able to cross this project off the list today.  I sure am happy with the way this second-hand treasure turned out too!

At the beginning of the summer I went to the funnest place on earth! No not Disneyland - well this might be considered a kind of Disneyland for Farm-Girlie-Grown-Ups- but Farm Chicks! Wowee talk about super cute junk! Holy Cannoli, did I load up! It was so fun being with my gal pals and finding one-of-a-kind treasure. This silver butter dish was one of those wonders I couldn't pass up.

So here is the how to turn your second hand treasure into Posh and Pretty Up-Cycling At Its Finest: 

Flea Market Treasures to start

1)First I hunted down a wooden candle stick at a thrift store that was proportioned the way I liked. The candle stick I found was actually held together by a very long screw- a happy accident- because this allowed me to
2.) drill a hole in the bottom of the dish part and then
3.) re-assemble the footing of the candlestick to the underside of the dish and the main portion, to the inside of the dish.

bottom of candlestick to bottom of butter dish

4.) I then had my man drill 2 small holes through the top on either side of the finial and through the candle stick so that I could

top of butter dish bird feeder

5.) thread black wire through the top, through the candlestick, and back up through the top of the butter dish. This allowed me to  secure the top of the butter dish to the feeder but also allowed me to

6.)wire wrap a hanger to hang it from.

Ready for some wholesome bird seed!

Voila a most lovely bird feeder for all my little feathered friends! Don't you just love how a wee twig is the perfect little perch for the birds to eat from!

This Event Takes the Cake!

Thanks for stopping by on this tasty blog hop. I hope you have been inspired! This is my entry into this fun event. A special cake! I call it: Vanilla Sugar Spice Cake. My husbands favorite cake ever is Spice Cake. I just couldn't make one slice...I had to make a whole cake! All these fabulous stamps were just begging for it!

This cake, takes the cake! Sorry I couldn't help myself...LOL

I have made this mixed media piece from a round box, turned upside down and covered with designer paper from my stash. To make it more interesting I have stamped it with hearts from Fleur Hearts set in a pale pink. The cake topper is made using a cupcake liner and I used 4 more, folded into sugar crusted rose buds. The large brown sugar crusted roses are made from sewing pattern tissue paper.

I have used pattern tissue, cupcake liners, glittered covered leaves, gems, pearls, pink glitter, lace, clear pink bubbles, stacked sequins, white dove, and these LOC stamps:

Flowering Gems clear art stamp set

Fleur Heart clear art stamp set

Happy Wishes clear art stamp set

Nature Walk clear art stamp set

Renaissance Hearts clear art stamp set:

Tasty isn't it? Let's have some more!...You're invited to feast your eyes on the Layers of Color Design Team and Guest Designer's Cake Party treats! Make sure to visit all the blogs and leave a "sweet" comment too! You won't be disappointed!

Layers of Color

Beatriz Jennings

Dawn Burnworth

Diana Queen

Grace Nywening

Gunn Thelin Knutsen

Guro Aarre

Heather Jensen

You are here: Heather Wombacher

Iwona Palamountain

Janice Whiting

Jennie Harper

Jessica Fick

Joan Ervin

Julie Overby

Kazan Clark

Keri Lee Sereika

Linda Lucas

Maxine Diffey

Melisa Waldorf

Nina Brackett

Sharri Seffens

Suzanne Czosek

Be sure to swing by Layers of Color Boutique and grab a FREE Cupcake Card Template!Your little party favor for joining in the fun! And when you subscribe to this blog and leave a comment, you will be entered into our Party Favor Drawing to have the chance to WIN this yummy Layers of Color art stamp set!...

Birdday Party art stamp set

See didn't I tell you this party "takes the cake!" So many fun things to win and see. So "have your cake and eat it too!" (I know, I know! I just can't help it! LOL) Have fun!

Playing with Sequins

This Christmas I had fun with sequins...I was inspired by my friend Dana T. She was recreating a Christmas swag like the one her Grandmother had made. Her Grandmother had cut out white felt letters to spell out Christmas and be-decked and be-jeweled them with sequins and beads. Then backed it with red felt to hide stitching and sewed each letter onto a wide red velvet ribbon, talk about cute! It was so festive and fun I had to try my hand at it.

However, I gave it a twist and did ornaments for my kids for their ornament boxes. We give each of our children an ornament every year until they graduate from college or marry. That way they have all their ornaments to fill their first Christmas tree once they are on their own. I love this tradition, it is practical and the kids really love thinking back to each Christmas represented by an ornament.

So here are my charming little birds. I used Layer of Color's Touch of Elegance stamp and fabric ink to stamp down the background pattern. Then I went to town with colorful beads and sequins. They are stuffed just a little to give that quilted look. I stitched on wings and then strung them to hang.

Love and Joy Come to You...

I have been a busy little elf in my workshop studio! I am so delighted to bring some new things to you this holiday season.

I have 2 new E-patterns: Salvage Savvy Pincushions and Jeweled Heritage Ornaments and one new E-booklet: The Gingerbread Cottage of Faith Study and How-To, isn’t that exciting? I am filled with smiles these days. I love it when the Lord in His loving kindness brings it all together, it is always amazing to me!

I hope these get you in the gift giving mood. I have worked to make a quality product at an affordable price. Here is a what is new on the website.

Another exciting announcement is that the New Christmas edition of Girlhood Home Companions are being sent out the day after Thanksgiving.

Don’t forget that there is still time to participate in my first ever blog give away! All you have to do is comment on my blog, tell a friend to comment on my blog and finally, go over to Remembrance Press and leave a comment there too. I will then collect all the names and draw one lucky winner on....oooppps! Due to technical difficulties on Remembrance Press' site we are extending the give away Yiiipppeee-I-ay! So I won't draw until Monday Dec.7th, hurry tell all your friends there is still time to enter!

Summer Preservation Project

This summer I have taken on a preservation project. My daughters “NeeNee” has become so frayed with love that she is in danger of, dare I say it? Becoming extinct. So I am attempting my hand at quilting. So far it is a very rough and amateur attempt. However the good news is I think it will do its intended job and protect NeeNee.

My inspiration was to make a quilt using pretty fabrics on the top and then to sew the NeeNee onto the back. This way my daughter can still see her and feel her NeeNee. I am hoping that by sewing her directly onto the backing she will be girded up and won’t fall apart.

Now NeeNee can live forever…can you hear the fairy music?

I know that when I am feeling worn and frayed it is a good hug from my hubby and the word of God that grids me up, reassures me and steadies me on. The word of God also talks of sowing seed could I be so bold as to interpret the imagery of that to a different picture? How about, sewing the seed of His word onto my heart? Aaaahhhh I feel an art inspiration coming on! Oh happy day….

I will post the end results when I am done with the art and the quilt.

Thank you Lord for your word and the gift of words your inspiration is astounding to me. Lord I hope I will always bring you glory with my creativity. You are the song I hear in my heart and the colors by which I create. I love you Amen.

Creative Home Touches

I love decorating my home and I love making old things new! Recently, I took a pillow sham I have covering a throw pillow, and gave it a bit of creative new life. I love this fabric and its soft tones but I thought it could use a few more subtle details to add some texture and dimension.

I used a new stamp design from Layers of Color called Nature Walk. I used the largest stamp in the set, the flourish, and VersaMagic multi -surface chalk ink pad in Jumbo Java and stamped directly onto the fabric. This is my favorite ink ever. I use it so much I am due for a new ink pad soon. See how the stamp gives an added dimension and texture. Just enough to make it new!

Girl Time Tidbit #6- Harvest Time Cider

I wanted to share a harvest season recipe that can be used right through Thanksgiving or until you bring out the Egg Nog. I have given this recipe to my daughters to put into their very own recipe notebooks. What is a recipe notebook you ask? There is an article in the latest Girlhood Home Companion click here to go to The Patchwork Heart, Co. find out more about this. This can be any kind of note book, but of course, we have made ours special by creating a unique cover and then using that theme design throughout the rest of the notebook. We collect recipes, projects and tips that sound wonderful to us and put them into our notebook.

I started these when the girls were around 9 or 10 as they developed an interest in cooking and baking. We started with baking skills since making treats is so much fun especially since you get to lick the beater on the Kitchenaid mixer. We then moved into other cooking, for example, dishes for everyday meals. Now we are into meal preparation. It has been such a joy to watch my youngest, especially, enjoy this skill and learn it well.

From our home to yours here is our wonderful recipe for:

Harvest Time Cider

Apple juice or Apple cider whichever you prefer
Good Earth brand Tea or other cinnamon flavored tea
1 Whole orange- sliced in rings

In a sauce pot combine 1 cup of cider for every person you will be serving and 2 tea bags, for every 4 servings. If you are making 8 servings then use 4 tea bags and so on. Bring to a simmer until tea has seeped 3-5 min. Then slice up your orange into rings and add to your cider and heat through. We like this cider hot but you can also serve it cold. However, you must heat all ingredients together first and then chill and serve. Cuddle up by the fire and enjoy!

Women's Retreat-Live, Laugh and Love

Live Well, Laugh Often, and Love Much!

Got home a couple of days ago from our annual women's retreat at church. Can we just say F-U-N! I had a wonderful time with my sisters in the Lord. We learned a ton from Sari O'Malley our speaker. She was such an encourager and spoke the truth of God's word over us so that we can Live well, Laugh often and Love much. What a total blessing. I have heard some of what she talked about before but, she illuminated it with the love of Christ like no one I have heard. I could tell it was her true desire to be there sharing her heart and insights with us as she lovingly taught us the healing power of Christ's love.

It was so good for me to get away from the day to day and spend time doing the things I love with some of my favorite people- my sisters in Christ.

This is what we made for a craft.

We also made a wonderful shakers full of bath salts (as in salt shakers-get it?)and embellished them with beautiful tags and ribbons. Just can't get enough gold glitter! I even blinged out my name tag with a bit of gold glitter. Too cute!

I made this for the speaker's podium.

Details of pendant medallion

The lodge where we met for meals and our speaker time had a black, cream and gold theme. It was very creatively decorated with white Christmas lights, candles and lots of carry over ideas from the craft using the Layers of Color Fleur Stamp. All Around the room were paper rosettes similar to the medallion on the craft, made from newspaper and the center of the medallions blown up and decoupaged onto paper plates. Now that is what I call creative.

The tables had black and white patterned paper and the words live, laugh, love cut out and golden leaves from the maple trees at camp all nicely arranged under clear protective plastic table cloths. There were large Hurricane jars with golden Japanese maple branches in them and pumpkins with different black and white ribbon. Black and cream Toile was draped over tables, counters and large surfaces and Toile covered pillows were added to the couches. The final touch of ambiance came from the toasty fire in the fireplace! Didn't I tell you it was fabulous?

I had planned on getting there and taking lots of pictures so that I could brag on my sisters but guess what? No I didn't forget my camera... I FORGOT the card in my card reader at home. So you will just have to use your imagination and trust me when I say that it was glowing with warmth, smiles, hugs, and friendship!

Girls Gone Thread Wild project #2

Prayer for a Cure

I had the greatest time this week. I love it when an inspiration finally becomes the tangible! Often when I create I see it in my mind's eye, I like this process and I am given many good ideas
this way. However, it does have a downfall, sometimes it is hard to get away from this idea too.

I have had the materials for this project from Monica Magness for a while but I sat ruminating on these "other images" for a few months, needless to say life got in the way and I wasn't able to get to my idea right away.

This really turned out to be a blessing! Because what I had in mind was completely different than what I ended up with! Gotta love that! This 10in. x 10in. block has a totally different color scheme, less complicated design, just enough detail. Frankly, I like this creation much better than the original inspiration!

Detail of tag with glitter

This not only has material but also paper decoupaged to it, a paper tag, ribbon, scraps of lace, and buttons, a safety pin, stamped material(wings and crown) glitter, beads and trim.

I also discovered another thing... I have been missing my sewing machine! Boy was it fun to get my stitches and threads out and start playing. Different materials and textures! I really like velvet and canvas together, who knew?

Girl Time Tidbit #3

Well, I have promised a project to do together to enhance your Girl Time so here it is: "The Cozy Candle Lamp Shade." In our Girl Time spot on the table is a candle that we like to burn for its scent and also that warm and cozy glow that it gives to the room. My daughter and I thought that it would be fun to have a paper shade to go on our lamp to change with the seasons.

Our version here is used over a wine goblet and a very sweet size to have on your Girl Time Table! Here is how to make one for yourself:

This project is to be used

ONLY WITH A TEA LIGHT CANDLE!!!!

1. Take a wine goblet (I have found inexpensive ones at the dollar store) and place your tea light candle inside at the bottom, trim the wick to 1/4 in so the flame is not too high.


2. Now you are going to print out the pattern found on the website below. This website http://www.warner-criv.com/tools/lampbuilder.aspx allows you to put in your goblet dimensions and it will calculate and draw up a pattern for you according to your goblet size. If you would like a round shade like ours make sure to put in 1 side. I think this is a great little gadget! Thanks Warner Stained Glass!
   
3. Cut out your pattern, trace and cut shade out. Then decorate to your liking. You can simply use beautiful papers(as we did), or get really fancy and add lace and trims, buttons, even some antique costume jewelry for a little bling! Use your imagination and make it to match your decor. Or follow our example, made with two kinds of patterned color paper in pink and ivory and a heart graphic cut from some old wall paper.


4. Using double stick tape or glue, adhere edges together and place the shade on the goblet. The top of the shade should be slightly smaller so that your shade will not slip over the goblet but just rest on top. To light the tea light make sure you remove the paper shade first and then light the candle.

Now you will have that cozy warm feeling when you spend your Girl Time together. I hope that you will enjoy each other as you do this project. My daughter decorated this lamp shade-didn't she do a great job!

Summer is A-Coming!

Can you smell the summer season coming? It smells to me like dirt and fertilizer and flowers and herbs too. Speaking of herbs June is a wonderful time to plant lavender and I have just the kit to inspire you mothers and daughters to get your hands dirty! Go to my website The Patchwork Heart, Co. and featured this month is my The Loveliness of Lavender Kit! It has all you need to start your own lavender plant, as well as, make a luscious silk lavender sachet together. What a wonderful way to kick off summer fun than to work side by side doing this project together!

Spring Sale

Spring is Bursting into Bloom with some great sales!

I have been a busy bee trying to get all things ready to burst forth alongside of spring and I am really excited to bring to all some New items available at my website The Patchwork Heat Co. I hope you will grab a cup of tea and come on over for a visit. But in case you are short on time here is a sneak peak at what is New for Spring.

Wouldn't it be lovely to give your Mom a special corsage for Mother's Day that would last for years to come? Well, you can! For the month of April in plenty of time for Mother's Day, all my Ribbon Rose Pins are 20% off!


Here is another great sale beautiful reproduction vintage needle cases for the special Mom that sews or quilts! Vintage needle cases will be on sale for the month of April at 10% off. Happy Spring! I hope you will come by for a visit leave a comment! Happy Spring Blessings!

Wool Felt Tutorial

Hello Fellow Wool Felt Lovers and Wannabes!

Thanks for your interest in a tutorial on how I make wool felt and what I do with it. I appreciate you tuning in after a week, (holy cow sorry about that) this home schooling mom of 3 is pretty good at multi-tasking but I am NOT that good. So, thank you for the grace period.

I love, love, love taking old things and making them new and useful, with new purpose and practicality! I admit it I am a recycling junkie! Frugality is part of my personality, it must be the Scottish stock I come from. I am all about efficiency and being a good steward of my time. Why do something in 5 steps when you could do it in 2? Wool felt is wonderful for all of these reasons!

Wool felt is utilitarian in nature but that is what I like about it. I favor wool felt over common craft felt, believe it or not, there is a difference. Wool felt is a natural fiber and uniformly dense. Common craft felt is a synthetic fabric and often irregular in it's density. Craft felt is good in a pinch and comes in a variety of types, plush for example. But my favorite is wool, it is durable, wears great and nowadays comes in an array of amazing colors. I love using this fabric as the base for fabric collaging and other sewing projects because it doesn't need to be hemmed or finished-super cool! It is a great fabric to teach young ones how to sew and stitch on too! SO...Let's begin.

Wool comes in different forms:

1. Roving which is loose combed wool before being spun into yarn.

2. Wool fabric is woven wool yarn

3. then store bought wool felt.












The process I am talking about is taking wool fabric and turning it into felt . This process is so easy you are going to be amazed!

Take your 100% wool fabric and wash it alone, with a small amount of gentle detergent (woolite) using warm water cycle. Dry on hot heat. This can be done more than once to achieve the desired thickness and density for your felt the more you wash it and dry it the denser it becomes. It is important that you use 100% wool. I have felted wool blends with some success but the higher the wool content the better your results so I would advise you stick with the higher wool content fabrics, 80% and above, you will be happier with the results. For 100% wool 1-2 washings should do. Wool blends may take 2-4 washings, depending on the fiber the wool is blended with.
Remember, I said I am all about recycling-another thing that I like to do is look in second hand shops-my favorite way to spend a Saturday afternoon- for wool sweaters, felt them and then cut them apart for other projects, and appliqués. Here is a sweater I made for my niece using recycled sweaters. The sweater itself, strawberries, leaves and flowers are from old sweaters.

Thanks for letting me share with you my love of felt and now you know why I love it, hopefully I have made a felt lover out of you too!