Tuesday, October 29, 2013

A Fine Day and a Simple Project

 

 
 

While I was in town today I kept thinking of all the interesting things there were to do at home. I enjoyed my shopping trip immensely because it is such a happy season and the market is full of bright things, natural and manufactured. I wanted to fly home and get started.

The children have been playing like they are camping. That is a pretend fire inside the circle of bricks. My granddaughter put fiery color leaves in her pretend fire pit. You can see it on the foreground just near the lower edge of the above photo.
 

Close-up, it still looks like a fire.

Her creative fire gave me an idea for a fake fireplace I have which has no heater.

There is a great variety Ofwidths and textures and colors in wired ribbons these days. The roll above, is from Dollar Tree.

Tied into loops, with led lite candles inserted, it makes a fire for my fake fireplace that has no heater.

Safe for children, but it still keep it out of their way. Even without the fake candles, the gold metallic edges of the ribbon catch the light and make it look like fire.
 

This is the beginning of a wardrobe for my granddaughter. I first sketched my ideas just to get organized in my mind. I sketch out things to help me get a better picture of what I would like to accomplish. Sometimes I do this when I need to rearrange a room in my house. Before I post a tutorial for a sewing or craft project, I make a very quick sketch. I made my daughter a similar set of clothes from a plaid fabric and coordinating fabrics 20 years ago, and now I am trying to duplicate it.
A seasonal centerpiece that is no trouble at all. That is a sweet meat squash from the garden, and apples from the tree. I like the seafoam green color of the sweet meat, with the gold bits growing on it. The smaller pumpkin with the deep ridges is a type of Cinderella pumpkin.
 
 
 

This is a super easy teacup warmer made from the cuff of a ladies size cotton sock. It requires no sewing. On my walk abouts, I needed to be able to hold the cup with hot tea.

Just cut a line in the sock for the handle of the cup.

The edge of the stretchy fabric conforms naturally to the base of the cup.
This might look nice in other colors or other parts of cast-off clothing such as long sleeves of cotton knit shirts, or the stretchy ribbing from children's clothing.

The only thing I have to remember is where I set my teacup while I take pictures on my daily walk. One time I lost one and did not find it until the next spring, but it was in perfect condition because it was sheltered under a tree.

 

 

 

11 comments:

Tricia said...

Lady Lydia,
I LOVE the sketches and fabric you have planned for your granddaughter's wardrobe! What a blessing and a treasure for her!
The story of the lost teacup made me chuckle!

Lydia said...

Tricia I just hope I can make at least one of the items in the sketch. Life is so busy. Just getting up in the morning seems to take too much time ;-)

Barbara said...

Your cute, resourceful and practical hand crafts never cease to amaze me! The sock warmer on the tea cup is great!

Mama Said No said...

You are so creative. I love the sock 'tea cozy'!

Lisa said...

I like your idea of sketching the wardrobe beforehand.

anonymous said...

Oh I just love the teacup cozy you made. So creative. I'm still giggling about that lost and found tea cup ;D

The sketches of your granddaughter's wardrobe are delightful. The colors are really pretty.
I love that you have created such a pretty ensemble using just the two fabrics mix and matching them like you did. Also making matching accessories with them. Soooooo creative!
You would pay a lot of money to buy such outfits in high end stores.

Thank you for sharing with us.

Mrs. J.



Cynthia Berenger said...

Thank you, Lady Lydia!

I enjoyed seeing both the wardrobe sketches (I love the color combinations) and the teacup cozy. I don't know how many times my cup of tea has become lukewarm before I finished.

Agape always,
Cynthia

Lydia said...

It is harder to find sleeves or warmers for old style tea cups. You can get them for mugs and paper coffe cups, but I enjoy my morning cup of tea using a cup and saucer.

SharonR said...

Love it all!

living from glory to glory said...

Good Morning, I laughed at the lost tea cup!
I also have so many ideas floating around in my head. I must go shopping today for groceries and I hope to find either material or already made valances for my repainted bathroom. I will need three of them. Our Men leave for hunting now, may we be blessed with Elk meat this year.
Also, the sock cozy is so cute!
I hope you will join the Apron giveaway, as that was the first material I bought with you in mind... LOL
Blessings, Roxy

Lydia said...

Ladies I added pictures of my fireplace ribbon to this post.