Random Acts of Kindness, Pin There - Done That
Don't you just love all the great ideas you find on Pinterest? I am proud to say I've actually gotten around to doing some of the projects and ideas that I've found. I thought the idea for an extreme hand balm would be good to make as a gift, especially for my artist friends. The original pinner claimed "makes your hands feel as soft as a baby's butt". It is easy enough, with only three ingredients, beeswax (available at Michaels), almond oil and coconut oil. I used Wilton candy molds with hearts from Michaels to make them to give as gifts. I also made an extra batch to give to coworkers for Random Acts of Kindness Day.

 Assembled ingredients. I used an old glass jar to put the wax and oils in to melt. I put that into a pan with water as a make-shift double-boiler. Once melted, I poured it into the candy molds.
The original recipe called for equal parts of all three ingredients. Put all three ingredients into the jar at the same time to melt.

 They started setting up almost immediately, but I found that it was better to put them into the refrigerator to cool first before trying to pop them out of the mold. Once they had been in the refrigerator for a while, they dropped right out of the molds.

 Don't they look like white chocolate? Make sure you label them well and mention that they are hand balm, not candy!

I bagged them in Celebrate It Treat Bags (also from Michaels)

Add a label on top & your RAOKs are ready to give. To use, simply rub on your hands. Body temperature will melt the balm slightly and you can rub it into your hands.

Vicki & I attended the Texas Bead Retreat again this year, our 6th year in a row. It is always so much fun and we get so many things accomplished. I was able to finish a bead embroidery necklace, a bracelet with Vicki's help with the directions (Dragon Dance bracelet from May issue of Beadwork magazine) and we took a pendant class. I wish I could find more of the cool face button that I used on the black piece.

 

 

Small Canvases
I found small multi-packs of canvases at Michaels and picked up a few. They are an economical way to create little pieces of art. I save paper towels from when I do alcohol ink projects. I decoupaged those on the canvases for an instant background. In the tower bins at Michaels I found packages of assorted embossed shapes. I painted those and ran some chalk ink over them to highlight the embossing. I painted the chipboard letters so they would match and assembled them all, spelling out BEGIN.

 The puzzle pieces are embossed with metallic embossing powder. The hearts are layers of metal and are wired onto the puzzles pieces.

Geri of Bead Crazee in Tyler caught these flowers at one of the 2012 Texas Bead Retreat. I bought the supplies to make more, but didn't get around to making them until the Christmas holidays. I was home alone with the dog and it snowed. We sat in the recliner all day, watching movies and I beaded until I ran out of rivolis to make more.

Christmas Exchange

Vicki & I get together for lunch and to exchange Christmas gifts each year (and then we usually spend the rest of the day shopping). This year I made her two neckaces and came up with some creative packaging. I found the triangle box (triangle is her favorite shape), the letter V and the scrapbook photo case at Michaels. Using them made them gifts as well. I bought the cabs for the necklaces when we were at the Bead & Button show in June.

 Painted the box with a wash of metallic paint and used glitter paint for the letter.

 Wrap the present in coordinating tissue paper and put it inside the photo storage case. Add a ribbon and gift tag & the package becomes part of the gift!

 Bead embroidery necklace with semi-precious and seed beads.

Semi-precious pendant with seed bead embroidery and pearls.

Another Pin There - Done That
I spotted these great Mad Hatter Ornaments from the blog Seeing Things on Pinterest. I made several and gave them to the gals at our holiday luncheon in December.

Chihuly Exhibit

The fabulous glass works of Chihuly were exhibited last year at the Dallas Arboretum. Vicki and I spent one very warm December afternoon exploring these amazing art pieces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Treasures of the Gypsy Challenge

Birdcage repainted
 & highlighted

This year the Treasures of the Gypsy Challenge was "Charmed and Mystical Gypsy". The dolls are displayed and judged at the Houston International Quilt Show. The gypsy doll I created for the challenge was actually the first birdcage doll I made, however I couldn't show her until the judging was over. Unfortunately I couldn't attend the show this year, but I'm honored to say my doll was awarded Judge's Choice. I've detailed some of the progress in creating this doll. The head was actually the head I sculpted in Diane Keeler's workshop. She had just been one of the many "heads on sticks" in my studio until I decided to use her for this doll. I didn't have much time to create the doll as I didn't sign up for the challenge until the end of July and they had to be mailed to Houston in September. I removed all of the previous face and eye painting and repainted the face to more represent a gypsy. (She was previously blue-eyed). I had the birdcage on hand, I'd found it at Michaels in the garden decor aisle. The charms are from Michaels as well, most of them from Susan Lenart Kazmir's Industrial Chic line.



Attached to cage
Starting to clothe



Adding puff netting sleeves

Using ribbon for corset

Eyelets & mini brads for vest & shirt

With trims added front

Back view with trims

She has hair!

Crinkled hair



Close up of cage with charms inside

Finished doll prior to shipping

Close up finished Gypsy

Charmed & Mystical Gypsy on Display at Houston Quilt Show prior to judging

 

Here is the information for next year's challenge:

The 2013 Treasures of Gypsy Challenge: The Masquerade Ball

Announcing the Treasures of the Gypsy Challenge 2013: Magical Mystical Gypsy. If you would like to participate, send $25.00 US to Treasures of the Gypsy, P.O. Box 748, Mountainair, NM 87036.