On a Small Scarecrow

I was planning to make some small scarecrows. I made a scarecrow. I'm done small scarecrow making now. 

His name is Hawthorne and, while it didn't quite turn out as I envisioned it (I didn't realize I used up my fake leaves), I feel he looks quite nice in his autumnal bucket.♥ 

On Two Turkeys: A Photo Post

I have been remiss in posting the conclusion of my autumnal crafting, so here are two coffee filter turkeys to stare at before my Christmas crafting starts to make an appearance!

♥ ♥ ♥

On a Spidery Capelet!

This is going to be the first of several "things I made last year, but never shared on the blog" posts. 

In the case of this project, I made it last October and then toward the end of the month the weather was too warm to wear it and I never managed to get a picture of me in it.

Anyway,  last year I gave into a childish whim and bought glow-in-the-dark spider web flannel. I wasn't entirely sure what to do with it, but I bought enough that I would have a few options and ultimately decided on a capelet.  

It was made using the same self drafted pattern I made my penguin capelet from in 2018, though clearly minus the hood. I definitely wanted it lined as I don't always like the feeling of flannel, so I went with black cotton.

While it's a thin flannel, I wanted to avoid bulk on the edges, so rather than bagging it out, I went with the option of using bias tape around the edge. I wasn't sure if I wanted white or gray, but then I came across some metallic binding while I was browsing at the fabric store and decided that it would give it an extra special touch to have a bit of shinny! Having been a year, I can't remember the exact details as to why, but I'm pretty sure it was less expensive to buy a wider width (possibly blanket binding even), so I bought that, then cut it in half, refolded the edge, and ironed it back to get a narrower width. As can be seen it turned out pretty well!

Overall, minus all the time spent on attaching and hand-stitching the binding on, this was a pretty straightforward project! ♥

On Making Autumn Decorations!

I was in the mood for some autumn crafting a few weeks ago and am just now getting around to sharing! 

First, we have Grenadine the ladybug's new and tipsy friend, Schnapps the spider! He was a rather quick project involving felt, chenille yarn, and green floral stem wire painted with black nail polish. The nail polish has reached the more gunky point and it ended up giving the legs a little texture in addition to leaving some of the green showing through, which I was not going for, but ended up liking. 

Next was a much bigger undertaking. I've had a roll of gold mesh (the type used to wrap plastic flower pots at Christmas or in the Spring to make them more decorative) sitting around that I've never been entirely sure how to use outside of having the nightmare idea of gluing it to construction paper for a shiny gold texture to make lion valentines a few years ago. 

So I started with some simple bows tied with brown yarn to decorate at work. Then I figured I had so much on the roll why not make bigger bows and went on an artificial flower and plant buying spree. Three hours of hot glue, poking myself on flower wires, and some not exactly "pumpkin" scented pinecones and I ended up with some very pretty hanging decorations to give to a few friends and acquaintances.   

Given that we're only a little into autumn and at the rate I'm coming up with ideas, I imagine there will be at least a part two to this post. Anyone else starting in on autumn crafting?

On Autumnal Decorating: A Photo Post

Last year I shared my wonky pumpkins, but never got around to sharing the other two decorations I made and now I have a few more new decorations to share before we move into the more Christmas-y decor makes (forewarning, you'll be seeing some shortly!)! 

I really like decorating the mantle and with Thanksgiving being my favorite holiday, last year I went all out making an applique and a garland of acorns to add to the pumpkins, leaves, and other little glass and stuffed animals which typically grace the space.

The garland of acorns was made last year on somewhat of a whim and involved cutting out the fabric at random without any definite pattern being used. Because of this I ended up trying two different methods of making them thus resulting in some that are flat and some that are round and puffy and, while the stems are looped on all of them, some I decided to put thread loops on, which allows them to hang at different levels from the baker's twine. When I pulled them out of my autumn box again this year, I was just as equally delighted by them as I was last year!

Moving on to the bigger decorations, last year I also created a pumpkin and leaf applique to hang from the center of the mantle. This past week, I made two smaller mirror image appliques to go along with it. I'm becoming rather fond of making these and am thinking about making a few more for other holidays.

And finally, all the stuffed animal making this year resulted in the desire to make patterns for and sew a few more poly-poplin fruits and veggies. Last month I learned I do a marvelous job making square apples (I felt a bit like Dumbo blowing the wrong shape bubbles when I stuffed it) and this past weekend I sewed an ear of corn (pun very much intended). 

Wishing a very happy Thanksgiving to my US readers!

♥ ♥ ♥

On a Wednesday Look for Tuesday

Posted on a Thursday!

I've been wanting to make a spiderweb collar for a few years, but never seemed to be able to get around to it. This year knowing I wouldn't have time to finish either the spiderweb dress or spiderweb skirt that have also been on my "to sew" list for awhile before the month was over (not that I ever feel spiders should be limited to October), I went for the collar. 

I thought about a few ways of going about making this and ultimately, which is a little hard to see in the photo, decided on a white gauze base to give it a wrinkly look with a sheer layer for the top to give it a little sparkle. Then I machine stitched the web on top of both layers with metallic thread! To finish it off I opted for a snap and a round pearly button sewn on top.

Paired with a black shirt, a spider necklace, and a mirror in need of cleaning, this is my official Wednesday on a Tuesday posted on a Thursday look.

                 ♥ ♥ ♥

On Oh So Many Pumpkins!: A Photo Post

The past two weeks have involved oh so many pumpkins...

Plastic pumpkins!

Oversized pumpkins!

And a wonky little fabric pumpkin patch that goes with one of my wonky little mice!

♥ ♥️ ♥

On A Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing all my US readers a happy Thanksgiving today!

(Idea for hats found here. And, yes, I did wear one of these last week.)

 ♥♥♥

On A Spider: A Photo Post

The itsy bitsy spider went down the office door...when creativity strikes make a spider!

  ♥ ♥ ♥

On Autumn Leaves

While for most trees are a common everyday sight, in no other season does one see a tree dressed in quite so colorful an array as in the autumn. And what better way to herald in the start of cooler weather than with the warm, glowing colors that this change in seasons provides!

The lovely, crisp crunch that comes with walking through those that have fallen from their branches, the festive air of using them as part of a centerpiece, and the dry, earthy smell particular to them only serves to add to their wonderful appeal.

Although not everyone may experience the same degree of change in fall foliage, the beauty of changing leaves is undeniable.

♥ ♥ ♥

On Scarecrows

With the arrival of autumn come thoughts of crisp air, leaves changing colors, pumpkin patches, and, often in the nature of decor, scarecrows.

The variance among types of scarecrows is vast and the images that one might conjure when thinking of them equally so. The popular likeness that comes to one's mind is that of a set of patched clothing stuffed with hay and a floppy hat stuck atop a head made of a sack, all, of course, balanced atop sticks connected to make a cross-like frame. In seeing one such as this, one might think of the ever popular scarecrow going in search of brains or one might think of a creepier scarecrow, such as that brought to life by Mother Rigby.

Furthermore, in purpose, they may serve as an attempt to keep the birds away, which may or may not work dependant on one’s scarecrow. In the event that it fails to keep the birds aways, though, one should not feel discouraged, but should think of it as an opportunity to start the hobby of bird watching and quite possibly as a means of exercise if one decides not to take up this hobby.  Aside from the more purposeful use, they also can be a delightful addition for a pumpkin patch, inviting all ages for a day of country fun along with the possible tractor and hay.

Be they cute or scary and for whatever purpose, though, it is undoubtable that during the next few months one will see scarecrows gracing lawns and gardens, as well as adorning various decorations that go up with the coming of autumn. ♥