Farmhouse Chic Christmas Rose

 

 

Ornament Swap 2012 has been a lot of fun.  From the simple creative process to 'meeting' some new  bloggy friends and discovering their lovely blogs, it's been a real joy!

 

Now that these little lovelies have been packaged up and sent with love on to their new homes, I can share more about them.

 

Just as this Swap had begun and I had various creative ideas swirling in my head, I happened to be reading this magazine, Mary Jane's Farm, Dec -Jan 2013 issue.  Yep, right on the front you see a wreath made of burlap.  Inside you get to see other things to make with burlap.  I can honestly say it has never really occurred to me before to make anything out of burlap, (well, ok, maybe a purse once, but I didn't actually attempt it....).  But these little flowers were firmly seated in the creative space in my head.

 

So with the little image in my head and a crochet hook in my hand, the little burlap flower became my Farmhouse Chic Christmas Rose. 

 

I absolutely love them and truly hope the recipients will, too! 

 

The pictures don't actually show them very well, but it was the best I could do at the time.  They are lightly dusted with a fine, sugary, white glitter, like a light dusting of snow or frost.  Just enough to catch a sparkle from the lights on the tree. 

 

I am now making a wreath for the Hearth Room's door.  Oh, I can't wait to get it done!  I will come back and share what I come up with.

 

Have a Happy Friday, all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Ornament Swap Peek

 

I do love to Make Things.

 

I find inspiration almost everywhere. 

 

But when it comes to swapping I tend to over-think things.  I definitely want to make something the recipient will actually like, love, adore...! 

 

I often question whether my rather whimsical, rustic, handmade ways will appeal to another.  I fall into the trap of trying to find different ideas, something from a source not my own, something more suitable...?

 

Then I return to what feels right to me.  And I still genuinely hope the sweet folks on the receiving end will smile when they hold in their hands a little bit of whimsy from the Hearth Room. 

These have been so much fun to make, and I love their simple beauty.

I'll share more just after I get them all packed up for their new homes. 

They have a big trip to take tomorrow!

 

xoxo

 

 

 



Handmade Oranment Swap 2012

 

 

 

 

Hello Friends! 

 

There has been something fun going on over at Christina Lowry Designs and I've been working on trying a few different types of ornaments for the swap over the past month.

 

It's been fun (and challenging, given that school is in Full Swing here at the Hearth Room)!

 

But I very much like the pretties I've been working on and I'll be back later to post a little more about them. 

 

xoxo

 

 

 



Happy Pumpkin Day

 

 

Hello Lovely Friends.  I feel as if I have been fast-forward-ed to the end of the month. 

 

 The gray, bleak sky today reminds me it's time to carve out pumpkins for our little family 'contest'.   Considering that I left town to visit my favorite Grandparents and returned home just in time to greet FrankenStorm Sandy, I've needed to play catch-up once again. 

 

Armed with a hot cup of apple mint tea to keep my fingers warm, I managed to help the little people make some ghosts to hang over our apple bobbing table.  I'm not at all a scary Halloween kind of girl.  No, I'm a silly pumpkin and candy kind of girl.  Nothing gross or scary here.  Just silly, sugar-filled fun to spin our memories with.   

 

We also put together some bacon fat/seed/fruit cupcakes for our feathered friends today.  It's been a fun, chilly, outside kind of day.  And once we had our birdie treats hanging around in the trees outside the Hearth Room, do you know what I heard?

  The hawk. 

 

And how about this late-bloomer?  One last little sunflower planted by dropped seeds at the feeder has opened her bright face just in time.  I'm afraid this lonely little bee is a bit cold.  It moves when I 'pet' it, but it doesn't seem to do anything more. 

 

Well, I had better be off to gather the carving supplies and cheat just enough to plan what we can do for Sweet P's pumpkin before Hubby gets home.  I'm sure he's got something up his sleeve for his pumpkin.  I know Young Man does. 

 

Boo to you!

xoxo

 

 

 

 



Crochet Christmas Ornament 1

 

 

Ok, it's a start.  It's a bit wonky, (no, it's really wonky!), and this prototype proves change is needed, but it's a beginning!

 

The 'tube' I crocheted was meant to be fairly slender, but then when it came time to 'stuff' it there was considerable difficulty.  I used a Tunisian crochet hook to stuff the filling, but it became too 'stuffed' and stretched looking.  Regardless, I now had a form on which to practice some leaves and berries.  But now that I can see all that's wrong with this one, it will make a great Christmas toy for Sweet Pea or a cat.  Maybe I'll dip it in some catnip. 

 

As much as I love the traditional Christmas colors, this leaves me craving some bright colors with a bit of whimsy. 

 

I'd better get to work!

 

 

 

 



It's a Bird Thing...

 

 

The Baby Bluebirds are still here!  I guess I really can't call them babies anymore...

 

They often come and perch near the feeders and take turns in the bath, (which I LOVE!), but recently we have had a hawk near the house.  In fact, while sitting in the backyard one afternoon watching the kids play, a hawk swooped in and took a little bird away...  So sad.  I think it was a dove.  I couldn't believe how incredibly brazen that hawk was.  It's been a while now since we've seen the hawk or heard it's very distinct cry. 

 

So now the pretty birds are back!  Young Man built another blue bird box for me and it's been leaning against the garage and often falling over.  I all but begged Hubby to put it up properly this weekend.  All joking aside, after he had the box securely in place, those bluebirds were sitting on the box and peering inside it within 10 minutes! 

 

Now as long as I can keep birdies on the outside and kitties on the inside we should all get along just fine.

 

Now on to work some more granny squares for that tree skirt...  I am also working on some new Christmas ornaments.  Wish me luck!

 

xoxo

 

 

 

 



 

Hey, Friends! 

 

I hope you have had a lovely week!  I have to laugh at myself for trying to participate in "Blogtoberfest".  It seems my posts have diminished since I started.  Sorry about that, but hey, I'm still here supporting all your "Bloggy" efforts, too.

 

We have had a busy couple of weeks here at the Hearth Room.  In fact, we had Nana here for a week.  The little people do love that!  We got a bit behind in our routine, so this week we've had to work hard to catch up. 

 

So it was super nice to sit still for about 30 seconds this afternoon.  Well, that's what it felt like....  And while I was sitting I  noticed how pretty the golden leaves were with the sun hitting them just so.  It seemed to match some of the colors in my fall/Christmas project basket. 

 

I'm sort of all over the place with my projects right now.  I'm making a very colorful Granny Christmas TREE SKIRT!  And I decided I needed a fall pennant for the door to go with my wreath.  I need to wrap these things up quickly so I can make some fabulous goodies for a swap I'm doing. 

 

Lot's of making going on here.  I'll be back to share!

 

In the mean time, my little fam has a tent up outside and I need to get out there to go 'camping' with them.

 

Happy Weekend!

xoxo