2nd. Annual DG Christmas Workshop "Victorian Santa"

Know I left you with faces Judy, will you be needing more...painted all morning and couldn't finish the faces here in the office, why you ask..forgot white and blue for the eyes..tomorrow's another day though..

OK, Im in, I have been watching, I think with the help of my daughter, I can do it.
Im in the screwing up a stick figure catagory.

Please check to make sure your name has been added...lordy, better clean up my craft room if I want to accommodate you all...yep, my room holds unlimited comfy chairs...

No need to send more Betty, Just wanted to let you know lupe is joining the fun again.
But, you are going to send me the other kits parts right? I have 5 faces.

Welcome Gardenglory, you'll do great!

Yes I will Judy..I'll not wait too late into the season..once I have an idea of approx. how many I'll order pkgs. for hair/bear and I'm ready to send them out..think you and Judy already bought the styro balls right?

LOL, no me and Judy didn't.(just teasing-heheh)

I beleive Liz did. I think she left me a couple from the package but I need to check anyway.

Ah Gardenglory we met again. This should be so much fun with Betty in charge.

What a weird quirk too. I never look at the general discussion thread, I just happened to see a name I hadnt seen in awhile and found this. I need to check over there more often. I was trying to get someone to do this on the sewing thread with a bag. I just do better with crafts and sewing if Im in a group and can see pictures. This is the best of both worlds, a group, but you dont have to get dressed or go out and fight the traffic. Boy we could both have used this project for today and the weekend ahead it seems. Its not like I dont have my quilt blocks to catch up on.

So exciting..yep, doesn't matter about the numbers, doing it this way, we can accommodate as many as want to join, providing I have time enough to send out pkgs...

Sorry Judy, leave it to you to catch me...lol...

Got to go on the Best/Worse and What did I learn Today to chat..omg..I'll be blabby...

I'm with you, gardenglory. Doing this as a group project will be more fun and having photos will make it easier to follow along. And, best of all, we have the 'Queen of Crafting' leading the way! I'm in awe of Betty's abilities. So many different skills.

Betty, I'm curious. Where do you go when you go 'to the office'?

Each and every day I travel 100 miles one way to Toronto, I live in cottage country so I leave at 7am to arrive for 9am and then leave at 4:45 and if lucky I'm home between 6:30 and 7:00pm just in time to call it a night...now we won't talk winter, snowstorms, highway closures etc. you just don't want to know about that...nope...neither do I..it's just around the corner though..last year we had so many ice storms couldn't go anywhere..think for about 2 months it was almost every Wednesday, guess it helps that I PRAY each night for blizzards so I can stay home...lol...

That's a serious commute. Do you do something 'crafty' at the office? Sounds like you teach classes from your home? You are one busy lady!

I have a friend who lives in Burrlington and has to go into Toronto. Its a bit of a ride, thats for sure.

I would say that I have 7 hrs. out of 8 that I must entertain myself..boss Paul (BIL) is comfortable with me filling in my day, i.e. t.v./cd player, computer, knitting, painting/playing, lol...as long as I'm there he's ok...so that enable me to accomplish much and rest

I travel with SIL who lives in a nearby town, if I take my turn, which I do, she drives my car, she gets nauseated if she's not driving, so am always in the passenger seat...now tomorrow, I drive myself in, we only work 4 hrs. Suzanne has meeting away from the office, Paul's not in, my nieces will work from home so it's just Wayne and I so I've already packed up paints, faux window insert so I just might in 4 hrs. be able to paint a birdcage and bird so I can give get my DG friendship garden shed windows in...I'm so enjoying that!!!!

I have 2 boys, one is 38 and the other 39..both born in 1969..both have 2 boys..lol..gee I want a girl...anyway I'm on my own so when I do get home I needn't cook and on the weekends where many of you are doing family things I spent time with my children but have a lot of time for my 'to do' list...

As for painting, I was Recreation Co-ordinator for over 20 years for large municipality...I was responsible for applying for grants, facilities and program..so I would often do hands on programs..loved working with seniors..so guess I would often as well attend classes/give classes so am well rounded in the craft dept...I absolutely love woodworking and would say I have more tools in my workshop then most men could hope to have and can used everyone of them..I belong to the group called "JANE' so much fun, all women fending for themselves i.e. electrical/plumbing/woodworking/renovations and have done most of the projects in my home.. so my dears, that's a bit of history ... I'm a gadget person, if I take on a craft, must have every tool...although a few knitting machines are sitting out, just don't move the beds because there are several different gauges collecting dust..lol...

I have to say, because of my teaching instincts I'm always available to help anyone who would like to try projects, thus all the 1 day 'make and take' workshops...

When I went to work 3 years ago for my BIL I gave up teaching here in the studio but had a friend who is equally as talented (patting myself here) so she uses my studio Mondays and Wednesdays...my old students who work have conned me into teaching Wednesday evenings so makes for a long day...

Well, now that I'm organized, it bed time...

I'm never during the days very far from computer, my groups and DG...

Glad you are joining us!

Betty, I like to have all the right tools, too! When I first took acrylic art, I found out what a difference a good brush makes, and it's tyhe same for anything else!
Right now I'm subsituting a small food processor for a blender to make papier mache', and I know it'll do better when I get a blender!

Whew! Betty, your day wears me out! lol!

You really are one busy lady. Bet you get done more in your evenings and weekends than most of us do in a whole week. Two boys born in the same calendar year? That's a challenge! See, you were working over time then, too.

LOL, Yes Greg was born Jan.1st and Jeff born Dec.8th...too close really not for me but for them..same class, same bus, same friends, same/same/same....always fighting amonst each other..when Roger died and they had just turned 20, they bonded and became friends..thank goodness..Roger would never have believed it....the year before and the year after their births I lost 2 girls, my life or theirs and Roger at the time made the decision, I often wonder what it would have been like to have girls...not to know...my mind goes there from time to time but I am grateful for the boys..love them to death as I do the 4 grandchildren...

Well Betty I am sure Roger was thinking about the wonderful wife he had and wanted to keep her. My kids went against each other when their dad died--no idea why but did. The last 2 years are back to being close again, boy am I glad. That is stress as you well know within itself. Mine are 19 months apart.

Betty, I'm sorry you lost your girls but happy you have two sons to love you and care for you the rest of your life. And grandkids! Looking forward to having some of those one day.

Marion, grief sometimes brings out buried feelings. Glad yours worked it out and are close again.

Thanks Debra, they have and might be even closer now. They each had to work their grief out in very different ways but now they are okay.

That's the thing Marion, we all react so differently when dealing with death..I became overly independent trying to prove Roger taught me well so really put a lot of feelings aside, some memories come back as though it was yesterday..minds video camera I always say...but my boys have done so very well...very 'fatherly' great dads..so I'm sure if there is a way of knowing on the other side, Roger is walking tall...

Well, brought in a panel for the faux window project, have till 1 to work on it..thought I was done but ideas/ideas..now one panel will house a cat looking in from the outside and on the other, which I brought in today I want a birdcase so that it looks as though the cat wants 'birdie dinner'...lol...think I should really get a life don't you??? lol

I think you have a GREAT imagination! AND you can bring it to life! You go girl!

I think you have a life and it sounds quit full and wonderful--well as wonderful as it can be without the love of your life!! That's a feeling I know also.

Love the window idea--pic when finished, please.

Well our sunshine is very definitely liquid now with a little breeze to go with it.

Thanks girls..Marion, better to remember a love than to have a wrong one in your life..I'm actually very content...

As for the Friendship garden, I've been posting on a thread, more to keep the project in-line...lol...should you want to see it progressing you can visit me in....

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/891972/

Could not have said it better!!! Same here, content and enjoying life again but with very fond memories.

Woohooo...Bought my material for 1 of 5 santas!! Crushed suade 2.99 on sale at JoAnnes.

...Singing, make a list checking it twice got to get all materials onnn time!
hehehe.

Can't beat that price, nice find.
Linda Kay

good for you Judy...no dust under your feet..lol

From the instructions :¾ of a meter of either cotton velveteen or velvet (prefer 45”) how many yards would this be and what does 45" mean? I'm thinking 45" wide? I don't sew well to none.

Hey!

If you have a "Joannes"----check out their remnant rack! Lots of great fabrics to be had......AND--they write how many feet/yards are in the remnant roll. Usually--1/2 price!

Another suggestion---------Go to your closest Thrift Shop and look at their dresses--especially in the Bridesmaid area. Lots of great fabrics to be had! You may cringe at having to cut up a beautiful dress--BUT--it is someone's hand-me-down anyway.
Velvet gowns! Fleece robes! Taffeta dresses! Satin draperies!.....Just GO and LOOK!
I buy pretty lace curtains and cut them up to make my Potpourris Balls--filled with all the dried flowers from my Garden.

Gita

Gita, that sound lovely. Do you have a picture of them? Nice idea also of going to the thrift shop.
Linda Kay

I dont know how much a meter is, got to look that up. But 45 is th width, most all fabric comes in ,with exception upholstry fabric and double knit, which they probably dont even make anymore. They are much wider, so whatever you get, you should be good to go.

There's a Joannes in the town where I go to the Dr. I'm sure they would know how to figure it. I may ask for 3/4 meter with a straight face, like I know what I'm talking about. LOL

Don't have a Joanne here..may have to ask a Sistah to get me some.
Walmart is the pitts, but I'll try the thrifts store first for velveteen.

Taters.....

Been doing this for years!!!! Collect any petals of Roses, and Peonies, and anything else that looks like it would dry "to color". You will be surprised what will dry on a paper plate on top of your fridge! Anything with color--except water-filled blooms like Begonias, Impatiens, and such. They just fry to an off-white, papery color.
Fillers are also nice--Like seed pods (after you remove the seeds) and small pine cones (Canadian Hemlock) and torn-up leaves of Coleus (SO many colors!).....
I grow Globe Amaranth and Straw Flowers JUST for mu Potpourri!

End of season small blooms--like Marigolds, Zinnias, etc....Go walk the meadows and fields--if you have them--and look for all kinds of seed-heads.

Just get yourself a big, shallow wicker tray (for air circulation) and keep putting things in there to dry. If it rains a lot--bring it inside. If it is sunny and hot--in 2-3 days, everything will be dry!
Pretty ribbons to tie them shut-----some small flowers to glue on the bows.....and you are done!
Never mind the fragrance! I always scent mine with Potpourri oil when the sachets are done.

Edited to say--a small layer of Bridal Tulle or netting inside your lace squares, keeps the small pieces and chafe from falling through.

I DO have pictures......

This message was edited Aug 26, 2008 9:36 PM

Oh my, that sounds so nice, and easy to do! Thanks, I will start collecting, and see what I come up with.
Thank you
Linda Kay

Sorry girls, if you purchase a 3/4 of a yard you'll be ok...
will be back to read the posts, must rush off, slept in and my appt. at Barrie Hospital is 8:50..gab later

Betty, I do hope it is nothing serious at the hospital. Please take care.
Linda Kay

I love the victorian santa it is beautful. I already have enough christmas decorations to decorated 5 houses but always add new ones each year. I hope to be able to do this with you.
I will be gone the month of October to see my son in Bern Switzerland. My sister and I are going for 3 weeks. My son has a sight seeing trip set up for us in all the countries over there.We are so excited about it.

Betty your heirllom book was so insperating, I cried. It could also be used in a 50th wedding aniversery.Or a reath of silk flower around the book for almost any occation. I have a lot of trinkits from moms,GM and GGm dads and GD that would work wonderful.

I just joined in so would someone either bring me up to date here or just d-mail me. I haven't taken the time to read the whole thread. I'm not sure if I will be able to sit long enough to read the whole thread. Thanks everyone.