My Favorite Projects of 2011

Well, it's been 8 months since I started my blog and joined the productive side of blogland  instead of just watching everyone else do amazing things.  It has been a great experience and so wonderful to have a place where I can feel creative again.  I've plenty of  new goals for 2012 but, before the new year starts I thought I would review the past.  Here are some of my very favorite projects from 2011.

my new dresser

my lamp and side table

the secretary desk

ornament owls

black beauty

and

the chevron tree

It has been such a great year and who knew that I would've fallen so deeply in love with refinishing furniture.  I'm already on the lookout for new pieces and I can't wait until the weather gets warmer and start painting again.   I eagerly look forward to 2012 and all the possibilities that it holds.

To the future.

Dreaming of a White Christmas

We've been having a very mild winter so far and it finally snowed again and covered everything in a beautiful white.  It totally inspired my Christmas decorations in my front room this year.  I went with sliver and white with a touch of blue and green.  I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and can reflect on the blessings in their lives, I know I have.  Merry Christmas!

Poppies

One of the reasons I started my blog this year in April was to have some place to show my paintings.  Somewhere to motivate me to keep doing the things that I love to do. 

 Here is a painting for my mother.



Chevron Tree

I was so inspired by the tissue Christmas trees found at acreativemomma that I had to buy some supplies and make my own......with a  twist  (wink wink, no pun intended)......CHEVRON.

Here's how I made it. 

First I followed the instructions from a creative momma and twisted lots and lots of tissue paper strips (2" wide and doubled up so that they didn't rip as much)

Then I twisted a 12x 12 piece of card stock into a cone and placed it onto a plastic popcorn cup (from the dollar store) and hot glued it in place.

 Drew a chevron pattern onto the cone and added 4 layers of twisted tissue in each colour.

 .......and continued until the cone was covered.

Voila

I love the rope look to the tissue and love, love and pattern on the tree.

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#5 and #6 Owls

The owls are complete and just in time as we set up Christmas last night.  I 've had so much fun with these little owls that I'm a little sad that I only had to make six.  My youngest has been completely enamoured with them and knows which one belongs to each member in our family. 

 Here is # 5

my husband's

and #6

 my second daughter's

 and this is the whole * parliament

 another group shot

A tiny tidbit of  information (in case you're ever on a game show and the question arises)

There are different "group"names for different birds.

Here are some I didn't know and found interesting.

* a parliament of owls

* a murder of crows

* a mob of emus

*a clutch of chickens

*a company of parrots

*a pride of peacocks

* a conspiracy of ravens

*a charm of hummingbirds

and my favourite

* a bouquet of pheasants

(it just sounds so pretty)

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Owl #4 and a mini tutorial

Well I finished owl #4, this one is for my oldest girl, who's favorite colours are pink and green.

I thought I would add a min tutorial on how to make these little owls. 

First trace 2 body shapes onto some felt.

 Then cut out eyes, wings and a triangle for the top of the head.  You can add details on the wings with patterned fabric (just use a straight stitch on your sewing machine).  You will also need two buttons for the eyes.

Start adding more details with embroidery floss.

I'm trying to make each one unique and have been having fun trying different looks

 Sew around the curved edges and stuff with batting, before you stitch the bottom closed.  I chose to add a blanket stitch to the outside to give it a nice finished edge.

#5 and #6 tomorrow.

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