Masks

We are making masks.
I am using gourds as display stands for my eye masks.

My friend came over for Krafty Kitten day.

She decorated one of her masks with recycled black lace she cut from an old bra. This one also received a beaded butterfly that once was an embellishment on an old tea-shirt.

Tan lace, black netting and bead flowers from an old pair of
 flip-flops made this mask very unusual.
We had so much fun!

My husband and I folded
a Black Cat mask.

It was involved but very fun to do.

Masks are fun to make and
wonderful decorations for Halloween.

We have just begun our
 papier mache projects.
They take a long time to dry.

I have begun putting together my paper
making supplies.
I am excited to use garden plants.
Some of these I will harvest after frost.

Paper projects are one of the
ways I hope to use junk mail and paperboard.
I am gathering ideas.

Art class

When I read Lisa from, Artsy Endeavors, was going to draw
100 self portraits I thought of
Rembrandt.

I requested a few books from the library.

While looking for art books
I found a few how to draw books.

I decided to give myself an art class.

                                                        I have given myself other classes.

I would love to know how to do simple sketches.

Like my photography

I would take my sketch book outside in every season.

I would love to know how to draw simple shapes

and loved creatures.

Bugs would be fun to draw.

I have been reading and reading.

I have been waiting for my creative juices to flow.

Perhaps with Spring coming they will rise like the sap in the trees.

Candles

I have been studying color.
I am all about red these days.
I have lots of ideas for projects.

                                       I have been saving candle pieces since October.
                                      I had enough wax to make a few container candles.

At the thrift store I bought a small splatterwear sauce pan just for melting wax.

I placed a few wax pieces in the saucepan and used the medium heat setting on the small burner.
I used a wooden spoon to stir the pieces as they melted.

I used some string for wicks and poured the melted wax into my pots.

It was very fun to do.

I had never made candles before.

I hope they burn okay.

Chinese Knots

I want to learn how to make decorative knots.
I requested a few books from the library.

                                The Chinese knots are so beautiful and have an interesting history.

My husband helped me set up a knot board.
I gathered my supplies.

I worked on my first knot.

  
It is harder than it looks.

My first knot!

I need to get some different cording.

It is very fun to do.

It might be awhile before I am knotting

and making tassels
like the professionals.

I want to make decorative knots for my prayer ropes.

I also want to learn how to make Celtic knots.
I think they are very similiar.

I found the red satin boxes at the thrift store.
Perfect place to store my knotting supplies.

Prayer Beads

This book from the library inspired me
to make prayer beads.

I am planning a rosary. I am gathering beads from my Grandmother and from my Mother.

I am making a prayer rope from my dried Solstice roses.

I added 1/4 cup water to two cups of
crumbled dried roses.
I mixed the water into the roses until I had a paste.

I folded in a few drops of Rose Absolute.

I pinched off a small amount of paste
and made a ball about the size of a dime.

I made a hole through the rose beads with a darning needle and some ribbon.

 The rose beads are in a flat basket drying on the hearth.

It will take about a week for them to be dry.

I made 24 beads.

After the beads are dry I will string them and spray them with clear varnish.

Slippers

I have been knitting little slippers.

These are so soft.
Perfect for when I sit at the spinning wheel.

These were so fun to make too.

I made a pair for my son out of home spun alpaca yarn.

I think they will keep him warm this winter.

Deb from Posted From Home

did a post about Mary Janes Farm

and the slippers.

When I left a comment about wanting to try to knit them

Deb was so kind and sent the pattern.

Thank you Deb!

Right away I subscribed to the magazine. Lots of good green ways here.

These slippers were fun to knit. This was my first attempt at following a pattern. I left the strap off of the two pairs I made last week. I think I will try a pair with home-spun yarn for me. I shall try to knit the strap.

I just love knitting!