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The Weather Outside is Frightful

The Weather Outside is Frightful

We turned on the furnace.

Ugh.

That means that snow will be here soon.

One would think that living my entire life in the Midwest that I would get over it and embrace the cold and snow.

One would think. Just not this one. 🙂

So I am going to find a silver lining about this cold weather furnace blowing season……give me a minute.

Thinking….

Thinking….

Thinking….

Okay. Lets make lemonade for lemons snowmen from snowballs.

With snow comes Winter décor,  Holiday decorating, Christmas tree decorating.

I love pulling out our Christmas tree ornaments and reminiscing. Looking at the little homemade school/church/girl scout/boy scout ornaments our children made makes me smile.

I plan a post about a Home Tour for the Holidays sometime after Thanksgiving so you will see the fun Christmas ornaments and décor that we have collected through out the years.

But today let’s make some ornaments so you can add to your memories.

I have these snowman ornaments listed in my shop.

They add a touch of whimsy to any tree, wreath or fireplace garland.

I was thinking that it would be fun for you to add your own face onto your snowman. Maybe personalize them and add a tie for Dad, a string of pearls for Mom, a fishing pole for junior or a pink baby blanket for the newest member of your family. My family would have a briefcase for my husband, a sewing machine for me, a textbook for my daughter, and a golf club for my son. The possibilities are endless.

Here is how I make my snowmen.

I cut 3 wood slices. These are about 2.5 inches wide. I gather my orange and black Sharpies and some thin copper wire. (You can use fishing line instead of wire)

Using a drill press or a drill, drill two holes opposite from each other in two of the wood slices. The third slice only gets one drilled hole.

Cut 3, 5-7 inch pieces of wire. These will be used to build the snowman. I suggest using the fishing line if you have young children helping with this project. The wire can get sharp and pokey.

The bottom of the snowman with the one drilled hole attaches to the wood slice with two holes and then the other two drilled hole slice attaches onto that. Put one end of the wire into each of the wood slice holes and from the back of the snowman, give the wire a couple of twists.

The top hole is for the “hanger”. Using the third wire, put it through the final top hole, make a loop and twist the loose ends together.

Your snowman is complete. Now the real fun begins.

Decorate!

If you are interested in purchasing a completed snowman, click here.

If you are interested in purchasing the completed snowman with a blank face, click here.

If you are interested in purchasing a snowman kit, click here.

 

MeTV and some New Blue Christmas Stockings

MeTV and some New Blue Christmas Stockings

When I sew, I like to have the TV on. More specifically I like to watch the MeTV channel when they run the old western/cowboy shows.  You know, shows like Bonanza, Gunsmoke and The Rifleman.  I find it interesting that not one of the Bonanza boys got married, well not for any length of time anyway and how is that Miss Kitty and Marshall Matt Dillon never declared their love for one another?  I know there was more than a friendship there.  I haven’t seen the episode where Lucas McCain marries Millie, but I googled it and rest assured, it does happen. Whew. 🙂

Something else that does happen in every episode, in every cowboy show, is that someone is always “fixin” to do something.  Fixin’ to go to town, fixin’ to go tradin ‘, fixin’ to meet the Marshall.  Fixin’ is not a phrase used in the Midwest very often/ever.

However, my cowboy shows are wearing off on me.  Samantha asked me what my plans were for the day and I told her I was fixin’ to list the new Christmas Stockings that Spencer and I had taken pictures of recently.  We both stopped, looked at each other and busted out laughing. I am at such an impressionable age, maybe a little more Dancing with the Stars would be a good idea. 🙂

So now I can check the blue ticking stripe Christmas stockings  off of my fixin’ to do list.

 

So when you are sewing, crafting, DIYing, do you watch TV or listen to the radio? Any chance you like to watch cowboy shows?  🙂

 

 

Who knew a set of rustic candle holders could be so exciting!

Who knew a set of rustic candle holders could be so exciting!

I shared with you in the recent past that I bought a drill press!  Well, I have been putting that drill press and miter saw to work again. And this time, I have to say that I have totally outdone myself.  How could that possibly have happened you wonder?  Hold on.

Our neighbor Jimmy works at the local tree farm.  His wife Nikki wanted some new pillows.  I needed some trees. So just like an old fashioned trading post, we traded some white birch trees for some red geometric patterned pillow covers.  Win-Win.

At the tree farm, they periodically thin sections of trees to encourage the best and strongest trees to thrive. These reduced trees are then recycled into mulch and used at the farm greenhouse. Jimmy rescued these trees so I could repurpose them into candle holders.  He dropped them off the other day.  He even cut off the twiggy branches that I don’t need. What a guy!

Each tree was between 2-3 inches in diameter. A few in the 3 1/2 to 4 inch range. My next step was to simply cut them into 2, 4 and 6 inch heights and set them aside to dry.

My drying time frame wasn’t exactly scientific.  I moved on to other projects and when those were completed, maybe two weeks?, I returned to the drill press to complete the candle holders.

Each birch holder has a spot drilled in big enough to insert a tea size candle. They fit snuggly down into the wood, and are replaceable.

Each and every candle holder is unique to the section of branch it came from.  No two sets are alike. They are not polished or disturbed in any way, giving them a true rustic appearance.

Fall decorating anyone?

Winter decorating?

I could go on and on….one simple set of candle holders and so many options.

I missed the Christmas in July boat

I missed the Christmas in July boat

Did you notice how many companies advertised Christmas in July? Yea, me too. I have Christmas items in my shop, but it is hard to get in the mood to create more when the view out my window is of bright sunshine, lush green grass and an enticing blue body of water. Seriously, let me take a quick iPhone picture for you as I am typing this from by bedroom.

Christmas? Really in July?  In Minnesota, we savor every warm and sunny day.  We only get about 3 months of this great sunshine, so jumping ahead to the next season isn’t a good idea.

But I knew I needed to get my Holiday items ready, sunshine or snow.

I made my list of ideas, checked it twice…see what I did there?  Totally into the Holiday mood now.

Here is a sneak peek at what Christmas in July August looks like at OldLakeGeorge.

Has anyone started making a Christmas gift idea list?

Have you said to yourself something like, “I love that gold star pillow but I wish OLG had a gold Christmas tree also.”

Or maybe you have a festive opinion about  the items in the shop?  I would love to hear from you!