Advent Wreath? I need help!

Advent has started and I am so unprepared.  I do not have the traditional wreath of evergreens and berries.  I did well just to have the candles.  I had bought them back in the summer at Big Lots.  They are not exactly what I wanted but much cheaper than ordering them online.  I tried hundreds different candle holders, plates, bowls, etc...  I'm frustrated.  But, since I needed the candles for our meal tonight, I used what I had.  I like the simplicity but feel that the candles need dressing - maybe with some twine or a band of brown paper?  I don't know, maybe you could suggest something?

The vintage cloth that it is sitting on is the only thing I really love.  Isn't it pretty?  I can just imagine some housewife laboring over this.  I thought it was perfect for Advent.  It reminds me of poinsettias.

I am linking to Heidi's"Make Do and Mend."

Thankful Tree - New Beginnings

I decided that even though I liked my first tree, that it did not have enough branches for all of us to hang our thanksgiving leaves and it was asymmetric (which kinda bugged me as well).  So, Deniska and I went into the woods and he found this branch, which I love so much better.  It even still has a few green leaves left on it at top.  I left those on to remind us that even when we feel bare and deserted, we can always find some joy and life.  

Thankful Tree

 

This year, our family started a thankful tree.  Every day we write down what we are thankful for.  Each of us has a different color.  Dennis is brown, Nikolai is red, Deniska is orange, and I am yellow.  By the time Thanksgiving get here, we will have listed 92 things we are thankful for - and this will just be a drop in the bucket of how richly God has blessed us.   

 Deniska helped hang the leaves tonight.  He is such a good helper!

Of course, he had me take a silly picture showing how hard it was to hang all the leaves!  Silly boy!

This is a very frugal project.  The tree came out of the woods, the acorns (around the top of the bucket) also came from the woods.  I cut the leaves out of construction paper.  I used a leaf die cut.  And, the scissors and thread are necessary as well.  We had all these things on hand and did not have to buy anything.  That's my type of craft!

I am linking to Heidi's Make Do and Mend page.  

And, to Sew Many Ways

Maxie's new dress

Maxie is our 6 month old Sheltie.  She came to live us this past Thursday and taken over the house.  We all love her except for the cats.  They just tolerate her.  Deniska begged me to make her a dress to wear.  So, Saturday night, he picked out the material and I made a pattern.  It didn't cost anything except a little of time. She looks cute, don't you think?  I don't see her wearing this very often but it made Deniska happy and that is all that matters.

I am linking to Heidi's Make Do and Mend Monday. 

Happy "Home-made" Halloween

When I was growing up (back in the dark ages), we never bought Halloween outfits.  We always made our own.  This year, that's the path we traveled.  Matter of fact, Nikolai did not decide to be a zombie until last night in church! 

Here's my boys for Halloween - a zombie and a hippie!

Nikolai cut his outfit himself.  He made the zigzag cuts for his pants and shirt.  The shirt was too little for him and the jeans were in the worn out, play pants pile.  His cost?  0$!!  We had everything on hand for his outfit.  He even used my make-up for his face.   This suits him, don't you think?  He was careful NOT to smile because, "Mom, zombies do NOT smile!"

Deniska wanted to be a hippie, a love child.  Now, I do admit that we paid a little for his wig and glasses but not much - under $5.  He had tie-died his t shirt at a birthday party back in August.  He is very proud of his outfit.This suits him as well.  He was born about 40 years too late!

And, finally, their sweet daddy has taken them for Trunk-or-Treating at one of the local churches tonight.  Tomorrow, they go to their daddy's office for trick-or-treating.  They do not want to go out tomorrow night because they say they will have too much homework to do!

Since this was all made with supplies on hand, I am linking to Heidi's Make Do and Mend Monday!

Happy "Home-made" Halloween everyone!!

Fall Cinnamon Stick Candles

What's a girl to do when she wants new fall decoration but does not want to spend the money on new items?  She makes something new out of the things on hand.  I have seen these candles on the internet and honestly they are not hard to do.  You gather your supplies - 

For this project, you will need candles, cinnamon sticks, raffia or ribbon or twine, a glue gun, and a little furry cat to help you!

 You simply hot glue the sticks to the candles and tie a string of some sort around them.  Hard - huh?!

 

I am linking to Heidi's Make Do and Mend today.  

 and to ...




Happy October everyone! 

Blogging Friends are the best!

 

I have made the best friend in the blogging world.  Jane, Cottage at the Crossroad, gifted me this sweet award, The Versatile Blogger.  Is she not sweet to do that?!  Thank you Jane.

There are some rules associated with accepting this award:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass this award along to 10 recently discovered blogs.

 I'm not sure there are seven things about myself to share, but I will try:
1.  I have been teaching Special Education for 28 years. 
2.  I am planning on retiring at the end of this year.
3.  I married a big city boy and converted him to country living.
4.  I am the proud mama of 2 ten year old boys.
5.  I am a homebody - there is just no place like home!
6.  I love to craft using different medias.  There is always a new craft that I want to try. 
7.  I have been sewing since I was old enough to thread a needle.  I could sew and play a piano before I could read. 

Now, I need to pass this along to 10 recently discovered blogs:
This will take some time to ponder on since there are so many good blogs out there.  Perhaps, if you are reading this and you would like this award, just feel free to take it and let me know!