Best/Worse &What did I learnt today/Chat with Friends Pt20

Hi All, I am alive and well and at work right now trying to decided what I want for lunch. Anyway, had a good weekend. Walked both days about 2 miles (ea day). I'm trying to make a pact with myself that I will walk each day as long as it's not raining. Hope I can stick with it. I take Murphy with me so he gets some exercise too.

Not too much else. I'll be back on tonight.

J

No longer a lady of leisure Jeannine..lol...but then, one can't have a paycheck and not work...when is that new bed coming...anxious to see it...

Isn't it fun Judy doing cutouts...

There you are Betty, thought maybe you slept in...But knowing you, your at work "resting" lol. Yeah, I actually found the cut-out to be kind of relaxing. Takes alot of concentration fo for me a nice end of day sit down fun!

Jeannine, How nice to get excercise and good company too...once that routine kicks in you'll love it.

My it's quiet here today!
Rach, great find! what a great story to tell about your new bed too. Would have loved to see your victory dance... Looking forward to seeing it all in place.

I know Judy, have been nodding off parts of the day, nobody to play with..lol..mom just called, wants me to make 2 Victorian Santa's for her..wants to give them to friends..it's raining heavily and fog is moving in..can barely see across the street...checked back on threads..not much from Laura..will have to get DG police to post her as MIA...omg..just looked at her last post only 2 days ago..to me it feels like weeks...guess because I've been up even before the birds and to bed much later that I'm all screwed up..ok Laura..it's only been awhile..calling off the search...

I'll just die if Melanie (DIL) calls to say she and girlfriends are coming tonight to do the craft..no can do, takes all my energy keeping eyes open..think I'll sleep on the way home...nope, my car but Suzanne is driving..so napping is allowed...Paul has to leave for therapy in about 5 minutes...perhaps he'll see how heavy the fog is getting and will call us and tell us to leave early..give an inch and now we want a yard..off early last Thursday and gave us Friday..now we want to leave early and it's just Monday..

Judy, not sure if you have any Santa's left over, if you find you do and you have use of a scroll saw then I can instruct you to do something else with it...

Oh my gosh B-if I were you..i would have been crashed at my desk...TAKE the nap on way home!

So far, they will all be used ... enough for 8 Santa's and at the moment i think i better not try and add anything else to the plate. Thank you for thinking of it though...or go ahead and lets hear about it and someone else might be interested...We always are to your craft ideas.

So here's a question...Did you say to paint the sleighs light grey after cutting them out? Is a scroll saw the same thing as a JIG saw? I have a jig saw and thats what i will be using tonight.

No scroll saw isn't the same as jig saw...jig saw will do it ok..and yes, paint front/back and sides of each top..stain the runners color of choice..as for the other idea it wasn't much..was going to say..put a heavy coat of decoupage on a piece of MDF slap on a santa, let dry, give a coat over the santa and with scroll saw cut it out same as you did with scissors and you'd have a nice standing santa that looked as though you painted him...but Judy if you are using all 8..that's ok..am sure you will have fun.. let me know when you have all your supplies and homework done...lol...it is so black out there..omg, don't know if I will find my way home...hmmm..SIL mentioned stopping to christmas shop on our way home..we'll see.. another 15 minutes and it's home I go..have left over roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy and the lemon pie I made..might eat then straight to bed..

Um your kidding right?...hahaha, Can't imagine myself doing such intriquet(sp) cutting with any kinds of saw...we will see if i can even manage a straight line cut!!
Oh gosh, Betty you need to go home eat your dinner and off to Betty Bies, you sound thouroughly exhausted.

Doing my post JUST INCASE this old gal falls asleep..

Best...just simply relaxing..enjoyed the day!!!
Worse...had some pkgs. to mail out..brought them to work only to remember that although it's the 12th, banks/Post Offices were closed..so no mail outs..tomorrow lunch I guess..

What did I learn...hmm Jeff gave me ideas as to what his boys would like for Christmas...they basically other than stocking stuffers are the last to buy for...then, ALL my Christmas shopping is done...

Am dropping in to Canadian Tire either tomorrow or Wedn. to look at the clocks that Carol (Starzz) was telling me about..might be something I can pick up for all 4 of the grandsons...

So dear friends enjoyed talking to some of you, missed a lot of you..good Lord willing, we'll talk tomorrow..off for coffee/lemon pie and then snuggle into bed...

evening all,

judy im jelouse your having to much fun i want to make a mess in the garage! lol
i have a scroll saw fil gave it to me a while ago i havent used it yet one day i will figure out what it is all about i look foward to seeing dd work.

betty, i hope you got a little rest this evening you made me hungry thinking about lemmon pie im going to have to check if i have any lemmons in the back yard how nice will that be to be finished shopping! i havent even thought of it yet lol , now what you were telling judy about stand up santa's can that be done with a scroll saw as well as a jig saw or a ban saw will you get the same effect?

jeannine, glad you had a good weekend i envy you to have a free time to get to walk in i know how much more energy i have after a brisk walk and the best part is to tire out the dogs lol, hows the job going are you settled in.

laura it has been quiet your way, hope you doing good and feeling better
shar, hope your doing good
best: dh is cooking dinner fried chicken mmmm

worst: car is still leaking now after replacing the reserve tank then the radiator come to find out that the culprit is a small hose i tell ya cars are to much sometimes have to go get a hose then sould be good to go
.
learned: boss said we got her good she said she was especially surprised that i didnt
slip up.

everyone have a great evening liz

I spent the day at my SIL's it was my 8 year old nephews b-day today. We had alot of fun playing at their house, he has two younger brothers 5 and 3. We also went and saw the "Bee Movie" and had dinner at Red Robin where all of the wait staff sang him Happy Birthday. The boys are really missing Daddy, he is in the Navy and has been gone for a few months, hopefully will be back before the holidays. I don't know how my SIL does it; raising three very active boys and is attending nursing school fulltime. She's amazing!
Was very rainy and windy here today, gusts up to 60 mph. Lost power once for about 15 minutes but that was it.

Betty, hope your drive home was a safe one and that you get some much needed rest.

Best: Spending the day with SIL and nephews.
Worst: The hour long drive home in the rain
What I learned: That the local theater is doing a production of "The Velveteen Rabbit" (it is my all time favorite childrens book.)

Hi guys I am bushed but back and forgot the camera so no pix. :( Had fun but tired so I'll get off.

I hate birthday disappointments, but as an adult you can count on it so it is less upsetting most of the time.

Last year on DG, it was my first birthday and I was so excited that I got so many Birthday wishes and a thread to me for birthday wishes and they came in for days, Greg was so impressed, he got jealous. lol

Had a blast in Phoenix and met my friend from DG, Marie Ortiz.

Dawn - It is very good that I no longer expect the perfect birthday that's all about me. DH is certainly lucky that I don't hold grudges.

Today seemed to be one of those days where I felt like I was busy the whole day but had nothing to show for it. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

We had some excitement here today. Last week was career week and the students at the school all drew pictures for it. Well, it turns out that it was a contest and the winner received a laptop computer. Her teacher said that she didn't even realize it was a contest. Anyway, so guess who now has a brand new laptop computer. Sonora is so excited and we've made sure that she knows that it is HER computer. It's funny because we were planning on buying a cheap, used laptop in the next month or two so that the kids could do things on it while we used our main computer. Now we won't have to. The most gratifying thing is that Sonora's picture was about her wanting to be a babysitter when she grows up - just like her mom. It's times like that when I'm extra grateful that I get to be a stay-at-home mom - with the occasional babysitting.

So, I guess my best for today is the laptop Sonora won.
Worst - having a completely unproductive day.
Learned - God not only takes care of our needs, He often takes care of our wants too.

Gilli, that is so wonderful. I am so happy for Sonora and for all of you. I saw all the photos from your visit to Betty, and I know she is such a great little artist. Please tell her congratulations, and give her an extra hug from your DG friends. And Gilli, not to worry about the birthday, it's gotta be a man thing.

I hope you are all staying warm. I showed a photo earlier of the 10' tall Christmas tree that my neighbor gave me. We started putting it up last week, I have worked all week on it, and so far it has 1,200 lights....still not nearly finished with the lights.

Maybe I will get it decorated in time for Christmas.
Nite now.

hello

pc is dead so using my DS
got my santaa stuff today!! THANKS
hubby will make in a few days when he is well again...
cant wait....

no other parcel yet tho betty, sorry

will post more later...

xxx

Morning..and it is morning..have been roaming around the house like a zombi...I'm like the newborn baby who has their days and nights mixed up..don't know..but anyway no sense fighting it..thought if I stayed up at least till 10:00 last night I'd sleep all night..NOT...oh well..lot's of excitement in your lives, how much fun is that..

Laura, can't understand it..am sure though it will eventually get there..maybe it's because of the soldering iron that they are checking things out...better get there..wow..DH not feeling well??? what's that about girl..hope it's the flu and nothing more serious...

Judy, loved the photo's of all of you cutting out the sleighs..you all did a fantastic job..what I enjoyed most was seeing each and everyone doing their own..they will certainly get pride in doing the project..family fun..there certainly should be more of that going on..now for the basecoating...the runners will be easy for you all to cut..no serious cutting there...tks for photo's..


Liz, was saying that those tools could be used for cutting the sleighs..but, the scroll saw, so much fun to use..and I'm the best at it..lol/lol can be used to cut out the santa once it's been applied to the wood ..then I cut out a base, screw it on the base, add greenery,snow and it makes a cute gift...will post photo of one in process of making..imagine, me making lemon pie out of a box and you saying 'you'll check your tree in back yard for lemons, now who is jealous!!! Thought better than keeping the pie for myself..ate a slice Sunday night and Greg came over last night, took another slice then sent it home with him..he's been working day and night at his job..so busy as is Jeff..we all come from a family that no one knows when to stop..it's go/go/go never time to sit for 2 secs..so I'm in good company...

Dawn, how nice of you to get to visit with Marie Ortiz..was that your first visit with her? Did you do lunch? You must share photo's..one day, I'll get to visit good old California...one of my dreams...or maybe you could visit here and bring some of California to me..lol..

Rachel, they say the 'Bee' movie went from #2 to #1 this week at box office..something that is rarely done..did you all enjoy? It surely must be difficult for your SIL, know my DH was on the road while my children were growing and with working and looking after them, it was often overwhelming..so cannot imagine being in sole control with the parenting...will say a prayer that he returns for Christmas...and never needs to go back...

Well, guess who has rambled...decision,decision, decision..to I fight it and go back to bed, or do I pick something to do and enjoy my early morning start...never take sleeping pills but if this continues I'll have to do something..can't survive on 2 to 3 hrs. sleep a night..

Now I know you are all tucked in and dreaming of wonderful things...sleep well my friends..

Shar..oops forgot to say 'Hi' 1200 lights OMG, do you have that many or have you had to purchase great quantities...just think how much Ethan will enjoy putting decorations on the tree..still waiting for a health report..what the results are..think of you often ...know you are in safe hands now that daughter is with you...

Morning Betty
I woke at 5:30 this morning ..tried to go back to sleep..but couldn't so here I am.
I am amazed at how you can do such intricate cutting of the santa on the scroll saw. I cut my santa with scissors yesterday. I have a wood piece that I still had from when I used to do a little bit of crafting. It is smaller than the sleigh pattern you sent but it will work.

Gillibean..congrats to Sonora on winning the laptop. She must be thrilled.

I got my haircut shorter than usual yesterday. I think I like it. I just pop in and have anyone who is available cut it.

Sharran..1200 lights WOW! Will look forward to seeing it when you are finished decorating it.

Liz....too bad you had to replace things that weren't needed only to find it was a small hose repair that was needed.

Seems everyone is getting in the Christmas mood.

Have a great day all,
Cheers,
Carol

Betty I hate it when I want to sleep and can't. Those are the nights when my brain won't shut down. That's saying alot for a blonde! LOL I love your Snowman in the picture. I am a Snowman Aholic! When I dig out my Xmas stuff I will take picture of what I have done. None of them are as big as yours but my paper was only so big to draw on!

Here is my Snowman project. I did have the button mouth taped on but I moved it and it fell off. I had a slightly larger one in the middle and 2 smaller on each side. OH I just thought of another way. The larger one in the corner and several coming from it.

But since I have it all figured out I plan on making one for each of my co-workers for Xmas! That's only 4 and most of the stuff I already have.

Sharran I can hardly wait to see your tree. I'm with the rest 1200 lights!!!.. My little trees only have 100!

Gilli congrats to your daughter. Talk about a surprise! Birthdays as an adult are totally shelf made. It's what you do with them yourself! LOL

I've got to get going.

But know I have oooed and ahhhed where appropiate.

morning all,

gilli, congrads to sonora thats wonderful news bet she's just thrilled to have won.

rachel, you had a fun day we have a red robin not to far from the house boy do they pack them in, hats off to sil i dont know how anyone does that hoping he will return soon

dawn, welcome back,glad you had a good weekend now is this the first time you met marie?

laura, sorry about you pc hope you get back up and running soon miss your posts

shar wow 1200 lights its going to be just beautiful! cant wait to see now are the cats behaving lol

betty, it must be all the excitement of holliday season comming up on us we have all inspired each other to be the elves in the workshop lol!
do try to catch a few zzzz today im still shaking my head laughing i thought you made your pie from scratch but im sure it was just as good i just love those two peices and i can see now what you mean the santa does look painted and it probably is very quick to make just love it

carol, bet your hair cut is cute, oh i know i wish we found the hose quicker but im getting to the point where i think i want to go back to a american made car, so dh can work on it, this german tecnology is a little hard for dh to work on and with dh being able to work on big rig motors and reg cars and trucks make's it easy to not have a mechanic bill, i love my car but i think simple is better

judy, now your the busy bee your going to be the first one to have your sleighs made lol

everyone have a great day liz

vicki, we crossed posts, omg its just lovely and this was the best project didnt have to go buy nothing your co workers will just love it great job

I do take awhile to catch up...you guys are so together getting Christmas already, I haven't even thought about it yet.

Best--have gotten to spend some time with friends the past couple of days which is always nice

worst---hmm, had some parenting challenges but I think I'm figuring it out

what I learned--I'm learning a lot about how to parent my own child..it's so tricky cause I've worked with so many other people's children and she's so different..lol...kinda like her mom. But now I'm pretty proud of how things are working out

Thanks Liz. Once I got the first one done I figure the rest will be a breeze. I can do one on each of my 2 days off. Sounds like a plan!

It does pay to have a craft room and supplies. Now if I just get it cleaned up.LOL Then I can walk in there.

Morning..keep getting confused witht he time on the postings...are they now showing actual time zones of each of us??? know I posted at 4:19 this morning yet it shows 5:19...hmmm

Well look at you Vicki..another snowman to bring joy into your home and already making 4 more...check the $$$ store..know Dollarama here has beautiful black velvet top hats trimmed with red ribbon..would be excellent for your project...

Gilly, sorry in my sleepy stupper this morning I didn't say 'congratulations' to Sonora..imagine, winning the computer..so exciting for her and for you all...know she's artistic so surely this will give an incentive to keep it up...tell her I still have her drawings on my refrigerator...now that I know she's an actual award winning 'artist' I'll have to have the framed...so later when she's really famous, I can say I have a few of her earlier drawings..give her that message for me will you!!!

Carol, is your sleigh all together, if it is then I would suggest you tape off runniers so that when we do the really messy part you'll not get paint on them...do basecoat the top with grey or blue's...is the DAP still soft...let's hope it lasts until you decide to do the sleigh..so you are sporting a new hair cut...had so wanted to have mine permed and styled on Sunday morning, but it wasn't to be...I'm going to the big Markham Craft show on Friday afternoon...3 big buildings of nothing but 'treasures' and 'ideas'..do you ever go to it...???

Liz, lol, now I'm lucky to be able to make the pie let alone do the lemon from scratch..you'll have to post your recipe..always lemons in the store..please do, I'll try one..

Tropicanna...Christmas will be here before you know it...get your list out..don't leave it to the last minute..when all is done early is gives you so much time to enjoy "Christmas activities and all it brings" family being #1 to enjoy...am sure you are doing wonderfully with your daughter...a good mom...can't go wrong if you spend time with her showing what values in life to have...

I'm pouring Santa faces this week, going to get some nice velvet material and make a few Victorian Santa's for everyone here at work...it's my favorite project..just have to find the smaller tomato cages..most places have everything put away..so it might be a challenge...

betty,what do you use for the poured santa faces? do you have a mold for it or did you make a mold ok i'll get out the recipe lol have to go to work.

tropicanna, glad things worked out, nice to spend time with friends

Betty was at our $$$ store yesterday and no top hats. But I was also thinking of using Santa hats or whatever they are called. Thought that might be cute also!

Vicki, would you like me to send you a few..I'll take photo tonight to show you..wouldn't be a problem..think they were absolutely perfect..

Liz, at the time I did them I purchased 2 molds...4 different Santa faces, but really, once you add that beautiful hair and beard you only see nose and eyes..if you want a few I'll pour the two molds over the weekend...

was absolutely easier than the snowman..except though adding wire to the cage for the arms...anyway..let me see now how I can explain how easy the gown was to do....typed out how to do it and it's not making sense...let me get a piece of paper to kind of give you an idea on this labtec at work..just a sec...
OK..BIL (boss Paul) just walked by, me holding up this template on paper towel..he just shakes his head, am sure he thinks he's hired a nutcase..lol... but this ill give you an idea of just how simple the gown is..of course there is a head cape but its just a piece cut in rectangle shape...

Liz, my DS sent me the instructions I gave her when she made hers in my workshop..will give you an idea of what it entails...

Victorian Santa


MATERIALS:

3” Styro Ball - Cut off 1/3 for face
Santa Face - Glue flush to top of styro ball
1 - 12” Tomato Cage
Styro Ball

¾ of a meter of either cotton velveteen or velvet (prefer 45”)
4” stip of contrasting velveteen or velvet for hands

1 Pkg. hair completes 2 dolls *** will provide name of specialty hair type..know I bought mine at Michaels and it was worth the money I paid for it...

Liquid stitch or simply use sewing machine..
Gold Braid
3 Lengths of 18” heavy duty floral wire (think I used coat hanger)
Glue gun & glue sticks
Lightweight craft wire
Circular 7” piece of wood 1” thick (optional)
Some decorative pieces.. i.e. gold horn...

Directions:

Hands: Cut 2 4” squares from contrasting velveteen or velvet and insert the ½” or 1” styro ball in center of 4” square and fold material around ball tying with wire to secure. Complete 2nd hand as above.

Dress: Main colour
Cut 14” X 35 or 45 depending on the width with pinking sheers if possible
Sew 15” sides together – press and make sure sewn side is in the back. Cut down 3 ½” at sides and turn under – glue with liquid stitch.
Run a strong gathering thread through top of front.
Run a strong gathering through through top of back.

Sleeves: Cut 2 10” X 18 or 22 ½” depending on the width of material from main colour. Turn under 1” and glue and gather top edge.

Collar/Shawl: Cut 1 18” x 11” piece from main colour and turn under all edges and glue with liquid stitch.

Taking your tomato cage, wire three prongs closed (because I had a soldering iron I soldered mine together..

Attach 3 heavy duty floral wires at center point with wire and glue gun (again I soldered mine and I used a lightweight coat hanger wire...)

Take your hand and push into the end of floral wire and glue the top gathered velour to the floral
wire to secure.

Insert floral wire into sleeves, tighten gathers at top and blue to complete second sleeve.

Place dress carefully over tomatoe cage while making sure the sleeves are pulled to the outside at side slits.

Tighten gathers on back and secure with glue to cage and now do same to front.

Gather bottom of sleeves, leaving approx. 1” overhand over hands. Secure with wire which will
later be covered by gold braid.

Glue hair to beard and hair locations making sure the actual sant5a face beard is fully covered.

Slice just a fraction off the styro ball off bottom.

Glue head to tomatoe cage tilted slightly backwards.

Take collar/shawl and position evenly to head making sure that loosely fitted over hair portion.

Wire around neck to hold into position.

If material is flexible you can turn it backwards ¼” to add fullness.

Decoration: I did several different methods..please

Position around neck a small evergreen wreath approximately 8 – 10” cut in half or a strand 34”
long.

Decorate in colors of your choice with dried flowers, silk roses, pine cones etc.

Find a stick approximately 12” for staff to be glued to left hand.
Optional: can glue birdhouse, horn, lantern, Christmas decoration in right hand.

Blue the bottom of tomatoe cage to 1” circular piece of wood.

Will either post photo over the weekend of one I made or that of my sisters' IF she can find hers..lol hope this helped Liz..

A work in progress.....see who sits beneath.......?? Just waiting till I turn my back. So far, so good, though.

Not to be trusted Shar..eyeing things out..am sure he's going to put an s.o.s. out for another to join in his plan...lol...wait till the ornaments are on..my goodness, it hits your ceiling..what a big/big tree..will be beautiful though... boy do you have a chore infront of you..but then you are waiting until Thanksgiving for all of you to decorate...still not sure what special ornament will be put on our tree this year in memory of 'Roger'..going to the largest Ontario craft show, perhaps I'll find one there...

I've been lucky to date, kitties just look at the 3 trees, only one the bother with is in the living room..2 elves sleeping underneath, about 2' in length, heads on a pillows so Missy puts her heat on it as well..no destruction as yet..watch me get home to find the trees down...

Hi all,
Been a heck of day!

How wonderful for Sonora!! Congrats. Isn't it so sweet to her art was not only a competition but her choice of career after mom's. Bet that just made you beam!

Laura,hope DH feels better real soon. how exciting you got your kit.

Ves, your lighted snowman turned out Beautiful! Love the Bell buttons.
How fun..to make more now as gifts!

Shar,OMG your tree is stunning with all those lights. Wow, 1200 you sure have lots of patience. Sure to bring big smiles on Ethan when he sees it. Oh gosh, Jazz thinking hard about what to do huh. Lets just hope she opts to look and not touch.

Tropi, so glad you got to spend time with friends. Also, your situation turn out too.

Dawn, so glad you had a great trip to AZ and got to meet and visit with Marie.
...some of the best photo's are in your memory.

LIz...Aw, You'll get to play in garage soon...sounds like packages are arriving so your will be in the mail any time now! Plus you got to create a tomatoe sm and I didn't, boohoo...but I just had a thought, maybe my old babysitter will want to give one of hers up or 2 and I'll make one for her as well...dunno tho starting to get a tiny bit backed up again...but still got time really!

Betty, Yep, you made our night fun, with this craft. Glad you enjoyed the pics.

Well got to get back at it!
See you later.

evening all,
shar , tree is lovely but look at that rascal under it lol

betty, WHOO HOO got my package doing the happy dance now!!!!! going to trace sleigh pattern and get ready i'd love to try a santa face that one sounds like a challenge im sooo excited the geese oh im running in circles which to start first dh thinks i lost it lol

thanks for posting the instructions that does help betty your the best! got to go trace wood
no worst, or learned for today ,only best got patterns.
have a good evening all to excited cant talk anymore bye

see im out there betty hugs and a great big thank you!!lol

It is the first time I met her in person, 7 mo. ago we couldn't get together but talked on the phone while I was there.

That is a really good day that Sonora won the Laptop, that may be my best thing about today too now, hearing that one of my friends had such a cool thing happen in her family.

Jazz looks like he will blindside that tree one day, the wheels are turning. lol I want to see the picture when he does too.

The snowmen are both really sweet and make me think about getting in the spirit and decorating, between that and Shars tree up already. I saw an interesting tree in HD with gigantic balls on it and big cross bars to hang ornaments on I guess. It was actually attractive in a different way until I heard the rock Christmas music coming out of it that didn't feel right for the spirit.

In your States, Do they still sell Cygon for the Beetle borers (to kill them)?

Best- Got to work in the yard all day! Wahoo!
Worst- Slept through my alarm
What I learned- That there was a piece of "wire vine" in a pot of New Zealand Flax that I received at a plant swap. I have been wanting to start "wire vine" growing up the trunk of my bottle tree. So I'm really hoping that it will root! Wish me luck!

Sleep well everyone. Rachel

rachel, if you have any problems getting that wire vine started let me know, if we're talking about the same thing, I have tons of it. :)

Morning all...well up at 3am but refused to get up..dozed till 4 and here I am..have classes tonight so long day ahead..stoppe dinto home depot last night picked up materials for 4 sleighs for tonight..leaving it a bit to the wire..going in cutting room to cut them now..if time permits will stain the runners for them, then off to work I go..as Friday nears, I'm getting excited..the big craft show in Markham..get to buy some goodies...

Vicki, can't believe what you can purchase at Dollar Stores..here's photo of the hat..offer still stands if you need a few and they still have them, can post them on the weekend...