Christmas Gifts for the Grandkids

Clothes pin dolls with little stands in their recycled container homes

Wooden Toys for my Grandkids

The wooden blocks swivel to interchange head, torso, and legs with other animals

The Finished Basket

It took many hours to complete this basket--I've been working on it for about a month, maybe more.

The Beginning of a Pine Needle Basket

Trying to make a bigger pine needle basket than my other ones.

Starting to shape the sides.

Another Bobblehead

I just finished this one--the face reminds me of Lady Elaine from Mr. Rodgers--which is a little disturbing, but oh well.

Orange Swirl Bobble

Its back leg is curved back and its paint veers in the same direction, hence the name Orange Swirl Bobble.  This one could also be called Chicken Feather--the tail feather comes from an orange feathered chicken.

Re-seasoning my Cast Iron Pans

I scrapped off the build up on my cast iron pans--a project that took about a week to finish.  I wish I had taken a picture of the pan before scrapping it down.  The inside of the pan wasn't bad and in fact was seasoned nicely--it was the outside that was thick with about 40 years of bumpy black build up.  This pan crossed the country with my husband and I way back when we traveled and camped our way from RI to CA.  So here it is taken down to its raw metal.

and here it is after I seasoned it a second time in the oven.  It's now ready to use--it will probably take awhile to build up the inside of the pan to the seasoned surface it once was.

I picked up the middle pan at a thrift store--that's what got me started on refinishing all of these.  Turns out the thrift store pan does have a pitted area on the inside.  I tried to sand it smooth, but it's still there--I'm hoping I can season it enough so that area isn't a problem.  This project worked my hands sore!

Franken Bobble and Friends

 Franken bobble and his partner

A group shot before I gave some of these away for Christmas presents.  I need to figure out how to post a video of them in motion.

Seven Bobble Heads

Golden Moose Wing Bobble

 Tongue Bobble 

 Feather Wing Bobble

Shy Bobble 

Purple Footed Bobble 

 Blue Jay Bobble

Swan Necked Bobble

Bobble Heads

Now I've been making bobble heads--I've used eucalyptus seed pods and whittled wood--these are my early bobbles--the one on the right being my prototype.  These are not easy to make--I had to figure out how and what to use as a weight inside the pod and then how to make it all balance.

Dinosaur Slippers

Dinosaur slippers for my grandson, because he likes to walk like a dinosaur.

Hawaiian Baby Quilt

For my newest granddaughter--born July 8th.  A quilt made with squares of fabric that I bought in Hawaii.

Earring Holder

I made this earring holder for my granddaughter back in September 2016.  I haven't posted my creations because I made them as gifts and I didn't want to spoil the surprise--this was a birthday gift.

Fixing a Rolling Backpack

I bought this backpack on wheels at a yard sale for $1.00--the bottom seam and corners were torn, but everything else looked good and perhaps my granddaughter would use this for school?  Her backpack she carries is just so heavy!  I attached some leather with rivets and sewed the eyelet corners on with some heavy thread.

Turns out she doesn't like it--not enough pockets--I tried--guess I'll use it for traveling.

Shrinky Dink Charms

I've been making Shrinky Dink charms for every production my granddaughter has been in--She's been in three or four nutcracker productions, but I'm making just one nutcracker charm to represent them all.

Alice before shrinking in the oven

I'll get some pictures of my granddaughter wearing it, but I just finished linking these on.

I couldn't fit all the charms on one bracelet, so I'll make two!

Hera, the Goddess of Motherhood

 Hera, Zeus' wife and sister

Hera, the queen of the Goddesses

Hera's Staff

This is Hera's pet peacock perched on her staff--made from cardboard and paper mache.  My Granddaughter gave me the go ahead to make Hera's accessories, (headdress, necklace, and staff).  She tells me she'll be graded for her poster board with the written info, but not on the costume, so I can help all I want--yay!