New box.

I love this new three drawer wooden box!  It is actually full of router bits at the moment - and maybe I will keep using it for these.  But then again, maybe I will use it for craft things.

New Art Studio

I will now have a place to actually use all of my fun drawers and jars and storage finds of the past few years!  I have a new Art Studio!

This has been planned for a long time (several years!) and has finally come to fruition.  It seemed doubtful for awhile as I wasn't sure I wanted to proceed following my husbands death, but I decided it might be just the thing I need to keep going forward.  I think Ace would have been very happy that it is finally completed and I will be moving all of my arts and crafts and such out of the house!  =)

Art Studio

Ahhhhhh - finally.  The new garage is completed.  The door on the right opens into my new Art studio.  I can now move all of my art and craft supplies out of the house and into the new space!  This is a good thing!  I am looking forward to Summer so I can get started.

 This is a view from the door.  This is the main part of the studio which will have all of my storage, drawing table, craft table, etc.  I think I will simply put down a couple of room size rugs to add a little softness but I could easily remove them if they get stained with paint, etc.

This is the back room - the part of the space that is directly behind the garage.  

This is where I will hook up my kiln and set up the potter's wheel.  I have several things I 

will need to do before this can happen - set up an exhaust system as well as line the 

walls in the corner for heat.  The electrical work is already set up to go.

Loss

I haven't been on in such a long time - life goes through changes; some that are great, such as my last post, and some that pull you into the darkness and won't seem to let go.  (to continue reading, click here)

More vintage finds. . . and little crafty bits.

I'm sure you can all tell that I have a love for all things vintage, antique and even just old! 

New Vintage Magazine

http://www.inspirationvintagemagazine.blogspot.com/
Check this out!  A new Vintage magazine to inspire you all as well as a great giveaway to go along with the kick-off of it's Premiere Issue!

Great fun shopping with my granddaughter!

 

Sweet finds.

I love the wheat pattern on the bottom of these jelly jars.

Interesting old crockery piece.

I always pick up the old jello tin moulds.  

I haven't figured out what I will do with all of them but. . .

Decorated Eggs

I decided to have some fun with eggs this year.  I was preparing to boil some eggs for my grandchildren to dye and I found that I had a dozen that were not good anymore so I spent the time poking tiny holes and blowing out the egg.  Now I had eggs that I could actually keep (if I wanted).  I just got out my permanent markers and played.  It ended up my granddaughter also liked playing with the markers on hers.  We had a very enjoyable time.

Easter Blessings

 

What more beautiful time of the year - the resurrection of out Lord and Savior!  ♡

Another Pinterest Idea

I FINALLY managed to squeeze in another Pinterest craft - Primitive Pantry Cakes!  I love the smell of cinnamon and cloves and my whole house smelled so good after I baked these. 

I still plan to tea stain some cheesecloth and wrap them but they will sit here until next weekend for that!  =)  I will probably also add a little more cinnamon and spices on these to make them just a little darker - a little more primitive.

I used a variety of tins to make my cakes.  I really preferred the little tart tins that you can see in the back.  They were just the perfect size and made a nice patterned texture around the outside of the cake.  The heart shaped tin was nice, too, but I only have one of those.  Guess I had better start watching for more....

My Pantry Cakes

I baked these for 6 hours at 180º.
I checked them after a little over an hour and they popped out of the tins nicely so I sprinkled a little more cinnamon in the tin, put them back, and into the oven for another couple of hours before checking them again.  They were still doing great so I let them go for the rest of the 6 hours, turned off the oven and left them overnight.

Salt Dough Ornaments

Had fun with my daughter making salt dough ornaments last night!  She loves scrap booking and we used her stamps and inks to make these!  =)

Salt Dough

1 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

1/2 cup warm water

Mix all together and knead until smooth.

Roll out to about 1/8" thickness.  Cut with cookies cutter - or be creative and cut your own designs!!

We then stamped with "Close To My Heart" stamps and inks.

If you plan to hang them, cut a small hole where desired - we used a small straw to do this.

Bake for 4 hours at 200º turning every so often to keep them from curling up.

Done!  If you would like them to be a little stronger, coat with Mod Podge or glue.

Christmas Snow

We are getting our first big snowfall and just in time for Christmas.  Unfortunately, also just at the wrong time when we need to finish up two days of the school semester with finals and all!

My Christmas skates hanging outside the door.

Joy to the World!!