More ATCs and Lollypops...

 This Halloween Lollypop is made using a sports bar round coaster as the backing which I colored using a lovely purple Distress Stain.  A layer of gold tulle with gold glitter to the edges.  A cardstock pleated center with a fun ribbon bat.  This one is utilizing a drinking straw for the handle.  Off in the mail it went...

 This is a Fall ATC that I made for a friend's mother.  It is off to Texas.

 My friend Joy made me this ATC after I sent her one of mine.  The detail and colors are spectacular in person.  Thank you Joy.  It is truly beautiful.  Can you believe this is her very first ever attempt at an ATC?

 Lunch with some friends and these Lollypops are what I gave along with chocolates inside the cute purchased pumpkin bags.  Ladies can never have too much chocolate!

For the base of these I used a CD and covered it with some Halloween Tissue paper I received as part of a gift.  Again with the cardstock pleated centerpiece.  Finished with a button tied with the same purple yarn I used to tie the bag closed.  The handle this time is one of those plastic stir sticks.  Quick and easy and fun to make.  I think they would be a cute bouquet displaying several in a vase, pumpkin or gourd. 
Hmmm...I am thinking of lots of possibilities with these Lollypops for holidays and birthdays and anniversarys and celebrations of any kind.  They are also lightweight and easy to mail in a bubble pack envelope. 
Getting my costume ready for Saturday.  I will be hosting the local Chamber Visitor Center so it will be simple and easy to still function.  In the past I have been a mime while working as it is work friendly...and if you know me and my love of talking (and I have been told zillions of times that I am too loud!) then you can appreciate my ability to act like a mime and not speak...for an entire day!
Happy Haunting...

Autumn Inspirations...

 Our Autumn weather has been glorious.  Several weeks ago we had the cold snap that is required for trees to miraculously change their colors from greens to vibrant yellows, golds, oranges, burgundy and crimson.   Now it is sunny and warm with just the cooler temps at night.  This is a table I decorated with my favorite Fall pieces.  Pumpkins and gourds and silk leaves.  Nothing real or organic inside the house as my furchild will eat it and then give it back to me so generously. 

 See the little felt heart with pumpkins blanket stitched on?  This is very simple to make as it is felt.  Great project to make and give as little gifts.  Do you see the seed pit encrusted pumpkin?  Hmmm...

 Here you can see my decor incorporates my love of mice which I collect.  The large pumpkin gourd was created by a local artisan and gifted to my by my bestest friend.  See the little mouse peeking out the side faux hole?  So precious...the mouse pumpkin and my friend.

 The fabric pumpkin in the background I purchased at a local bazaar.  I always try to support fellow crafters.

Here are some pieces I bought at the local elementary school boutique to help the kids earn money for their school activities.  The little happy gourd, clay leaf tray and the framed dried leaves.  Nothing was more than $5 a piece and it really helps the kids.
So with lots of Autumn inspiration indoors and outdoors I shall fix a cup of tea and relax reflecting on how fortunate we are to be able to enjoy such amazing beauty.
If this is Monday I will be doing laundry...washing, drying and ironing...all of which I enjoy doing. 
Do each of you have your Halloween costumes ready?  This is the final week before all the parties and Trick or Treating.  I shall be getting my costume ready for certain.  Each year I end up hosting the Chamber Visitor Center on Saturday just before Halloween so I always wear a costume and greet visitors and locals with a basket of Treats.  It is fun to see their reactions. You do know by now that I am merely a grown up child!  I love to have fun and be in the spirit.
Wonderful week to all...

Sorting Jewelry...

Apologies for these fuzzy photos. I believe I am feeling as fuzzy as these photos. This is the second set I took and both times the images were not clear. I understand I have no expertise in the photography department and further understand that I do not wish to learn photography as it seems to be far more complicated and time consuming than I have patience for. Mr. C is an expert and we never agree on my need to learn and take my time to photograph things. So I am posting these lovely fuzzy photos because this post is not about the pictures but the object of them.

Over a week ago I decided to gather all of my costume and semi-precious and general jewelry. I thought it would be a good idea to sort it all out and then organize it so it would be quickly recognizable and usuable for my crafting.

What was I thinking?

I started out strong. Then I lost the momentum for sorting all of this stuff! I decided to purchase some clear medium paint pails from the local craft store. This way I could see what I have and access it easily.

Okay so far so good.

Now I have some of it sorted. Earrings in one container. Bracelets in another. Pins separate from tac pins. Broken pieces of jewelry by themselves. Necklaces...oh far too many to fit...Oh yes a very large glass container that was only holding ephemera. Jewelry is so much prettier to view and inspire my creative ventures.

But wait...I'm far from done...

I have run out of steam yet I have so far to go to complete this task.

What happened? Well, I began straying down memory lane with some of the pieces I was finding in my stash of jewelry. Some of it brought me great joy and some pieces brought me great sadness. With my Grandma and my Mother both gone it was bittersweet to come across a piece of their costume jewelry I just cannot dispose of. And with the rain and very gray days it is not a good time for me to become sad. So, I have officially put this project on hold until the brighter days of summer when the sun shines and I feel so much happier. In the meantime I shall merely gather up all of this and put it in a bin which I can set aside.

In gratitude for the pieces I am finding I have been thinking of some wonderful ways to honor my Grandma and Mother and leave bits of memories for my daughter and granddaughters. Knowing that none of them would ever wear any of the pieces I shall create some sort of mixed media pieces. Ahh...that will be for future projects. Already I am happier just knowing I shall be able to create some sort of legacy to be handed down to the next generations.

Now for getting my vanity back to normal.
What would you make with costume jewelry?

May you have a wonderful week and enjoy the celebration of St. Patrick's Day and wearin of the green...