Snow at Stillwaters

We got an unexpected surprise on Thursday evening. The weatherman said flurries with no accumulation but this is what happened.
Yes, I know it's snowing sideways. I'm just tickled because I finally got a video to upload. My digital camera takes short videos and I forgot that if I turn the camera sideways, I can't just flip the picture upright in Photoshop.






This is the scene that we woke up to on Friday morning. I'm posting this on Saturday and some of it is still here however the temperature is going to be near 60 degrees tomorrow. So fickle is the weather in Tennessee.

I'm enjoying sitting in my warm basement by the woodstove with my laptop, looking out at what's left of the snow, having a conversation with you.
Here are some very non-wintery earrings that I've just recently posted in my Etsy shop.

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Surprises In The Mail

Don't you just love to get surprises? I've gotten two lately. The first one was from Steph (aka Vladthebt) There was a lovely decorated box in my mailbox and I knew just who it was from when I saw it. The box was chock full of treasures large and small. There was a cool bracelet and lots of beads and a bag full of different kinds of crosses.I just noticed that the bracelet isn't in this picture because I immediately put it on my wrist. I had such fun looking at the present and planning what I would make with the items.This necklace was made using some of the beads that Steph sent in a previous gift, plus some of my own.The second surprise was from my cousin Sally. She called and said that she was mailing me a box of wool. She has two sheep, Moses and Pharaoh, so this wool was from them with some other types of wool mixed together. The colors are going to be fun to work with and there is some white for me to dye myself.
What a fun jump start that was to my creativity.

Candy and Sushi

My mind has apparently been on felt and food lately.
Here are a couple of my calorie free creations.

I got the idea from Felt Magazine.

New Stuff

Well the title isn't very inspired, but it pretty much says it all. Here are some of the new things that I made for the sale at Silo Studios.
The photo above is a button maille bracelet that I got the idea for from a jewelry magazine that I flipped through at the craft store. I've always wanted to try chain maille but the directions seemed confusing. This looked simple enough, and it was fun.

A variety of earrings.

This is Prince Albert, made from a tobacco tin, a tin can lid, some resistors for his medals, and a vintage rhinestone button.

Tag... I'm it!

Oh my! I've been tagged by Steph (Check out her blog, Vladthebatsattic). Now I have to think of 7 things about myself that someone else would find remotely interesting. I feel like such an ordinary person, that might take some stretching of my brain. Got to kick the left side into gear and give it a go.

1. I guess the one thing that I put the most energy into in my life is that I homeschooled my two sons all the way from kindergarten to graduation. That means that I taught all of those grades...twice. That seems like a lot to me, but I have one friend who has 11 children and plans to teach all of them the whole way, so I guess it's not such a huge thing. I learned more by teaching them than I ever learned in my whole education up to that point.

2. My husband says that I'm the geek of the family. He means it as a compliment. He doesn't do the computer at all and doesn't own a cell phone. I have to run the DVD player and any other electronic device in the house. He could do it if he wanted to, but just doesn't want to. I insisted that he learn how to use my cell phone. I made his website for his business, and I run the computer at church to put the words to the songs up on the screen. I love computers!

3. I've always wanted to be an artist. The only other thing I considered is archeology. I'd still like to do that. Maybe I could combine the two.

4. I've completed one half of a century and am almost a year into the second half century.

5. I can recite all of the presidents of the United States in 30 seconds.

6. I must have a twin or several twins because at least once a month some stranger says to me, "Do I know you?" or "I know someone who looks just like you." It's not just locally, it happens when I'm traveling too. I'm going to have to start asking them what my twin's name is so I'll know if it is the same person all the time.

7. I'm mostly vegetarian. Occasionally I do eat fish, but I don't eat land animals. Is there a different term for that? I do it for health reasons, not because I'm opposed to people eating meat. I just think it's better for you. My dad died of cancer and several of my aunts have had cancer so I'm just trying to improve my chances. I feel better too.
Well...that's a little bit of me. I'd pass this tag along but everyone I can think of has already been tagged.

Fall Colors

There is a nip in the air and the smell of fallen leaves.

With technicolor skies and hills, fall has come to Stillwaters.

Frisky puppies play in the red leaves.

I finally made time to post some new jewelry. These are my fall leaves necklaces. They are made of crocheted yarn with felt and copper leaves. The closures are handmade polymer clay buttons.

These two pieces are made of aluminum wire. I got the idea for using aluminum at a craft show when I was in Florida a couple of weeks ago. It is light weight and doesn't tarnish, also it is easy on the hands when working with it.

Costumed Kin

I don't do Halloween, but I can appreciate a hilarious costume. This is my next to newest nephew as Elvis. That is really his hair. He almost needed a haircut when he was born.

Another thing that is hard for me to pass up...the opportunity to paint on someone's face. For family and friends, guess the identity of the evil clown.