Thankful Trees

Yea!  School's out for Thanksgiving Week!..So me, Henry and Corey made Thankful Trees.  I was inspired by the one my daughter Jessica (aka SunnyStitching) made with her children.  She has directions on her blogpage.  Very simple and the most fun part was painting the containers!!!!

This is the one we made for Henry and Corey to take home.  Their dad Joel (my son) came early to pick them up so he got to help cut out the leave, put the yarn through them and then they each added the first leaves of thanks to the tree.

Corey painted this side of the can with beautiful cheerful trees and a turkey!

 

 Henry painted this side of the can...a modern art scene!

 

 Here is Dad Joel helping!

 Joel and Henry

Joel and Corey

 

 Of course Dad Joel was thankful for Corey and Henry:)

Joel suggested we make another one for Thanksgiving Day to use at our house.  So, another day when Henry and Corey were here, as well as Papa Jerry, we made another one!

 Corey painted this side with a pumpkin and turkey theme!  I love her turkey!

Henry painted this beautiful pumpkin on his side of the container!!! Fantastic!

Above are two views of the finished Thankful Tree.

(not pictured is Papa who cut the branches for the trees with the help of Henry)

I must say that some of my friends who saw them were so inspired to make one to use at their Thanksgiving Day celebration.

Thank you Jessica for making your Thankful Tree!

Spider! - Photo of the Week

One day we were getting into the car and noticed this fantastic spider web on the rosemary plants that grow on our front slope.  I  tried to get a better photo, but hope you get the idea....a big spider in a large spider web.

Beautiful Driveway - Photo of the Week

This is a lovely view leading to a house on our street.  As I walk up the hill, this is just one beautiful  view I get to enjoy!

Another Beautiful Plant - Photo of the Week

I love surprises that grow in potted plants and these flowers were unexpected.  I am not even sure what they are.  They could be beautiful weeds.  I really enjoyed seeing them as I would walk into the house.

A big thank you to nature's unexpected.

The Socks Are Finished!

In April I shared One Sock Completed, One To Go.  I honestly thought the socks for Evie and Canaan would be finished in about 2 months and that they would take them back to England after their summer visit.

Well.......guess not, because I just finished them!.....and they are sooo cute! 

The question remains if they will fit..........here's hoping as they will be mailed this week!

 It's pretty obvious the blue socks are for Canaan, and the rainbow socks are for Evie.  I used this cute pattern and fingerweight yarn by Regia.  The pattern was easy to follow, but I had a hard time getting the tension of my crocheting on the second sock to match the first one. 

 Riley is the new "family" dog.  Actually, my granddog....he belongs to my son's family of whom my cute grandkids, Henry (5 yrs) and Corey (10yrs) belong.  I was babysitting Riley and he wanted in the picture!:)

One last photo of the socks!

Evie and Canaan, here come the socks!

Fish Dress

In a recent post titled Fish Pocket Cargo Pants, I shared a pair of pants that I had made for Canaan, my grandson who lives in England.  I ended  that post with:

Canaan, Papa wants to take you fishing when you come in December.

Maybe you can wear your "Fish Pocket Cargo Pants"

Canaan and his sister Evie belong to my daughter Jessica of Sunnystitching and her husband who are teachers in England.   While skyping them shortly after sharing that post, Evie told me that she needed a fish dress to wear so she could also go fishing with Papa.  How cute is that!!!! Of course, all the grandkids can go but I could understand that she took my ending literally:):)

New project for Nanny....make fish fabric dress for Evie...Papa stopped at JoAnn's Fabric store on the way home the next week and got enough for the dress (just the right amount left on the bolt!).  I had previously purchased a pattern that I had been wanting to make.  McCall's M6388.  I did make the top ruffle long enough to go all the way around, instead of only halfway like on the pattern.

It was such a joy to sew the dress as well as the pants and shirt.  Even Brandy, our cute poodle wanted in the picture of it!

Completed dress for Evie!

It looks like Evie will be the cutest fisher girl on the pier when they go fishing!

Fish Shirt

Some of you may have seen the post regarding the fish pocket cargo pants that I made for my 2 1/2 year old grandson Canaan who lives in England.  His mom is Jessica of Sunny Stitching which is her most fabulous blog.  I mailed the pants to Canaan and the next week started sewing a shirt for him out of the fish fabric used for the pockets on the pants.

While skyping with their family this past weekend, Jessica said they had received the package that also included the pretty pink pillowcase I had made for Evie, Canaan's most lovely 4 year old sister.  Canaan loved his new pants, and Evie loves sleeping on her pink pillowcase.  However, Canaan doesn't want to wear his pants without the shirt.  I had just finished the shirt and am so excited to send it to him.

I used one of my favorite shirt/pants patterns Simplicity 3856 and the so cheerful fish fabric purchased at our local JoAnn's Fabric Store.

Finished Fish Shirt for Canaan!

More to come....watch for Fish Dress, another Fish Shirt and Fish Shoelaces.

Sure hope the fish are biting!

Sunny Yellow Flower - Photo of the Week

On my morning walk this is another of the beautiful flowers I get to watch bloom.  The green plant it grows from is lovely in itself.  But when the flower blooms....is it so sunny and beautiful. 

What a beautiful day!

Palm Tree and Succulents - Photo of the Week

Every now and then I walk around our street and one street over for my morning exercise.  One morning I noticed this beautiful Palm Tree that had succulents planted aound the trunk of it.  It was so beautiful and unusual.

Below is a closeup view of the trunk.  Someone really took a lot of time to create this beautiful look.

There is a saying "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

My eyes certainly see this as wonderful beauty.

Featured!!!!! Fish Pocket Pants

Well, I really was so surprised to get an email a few days ago from Pam of Threading My Way that she was featuring the Fish Pocket Pants I recently sewed for my grandson in England. 

Our family had a terrific summer with our daughter Jessica's (SunnyStitching) family visiting from England, and then the busyness of school started for our grandchildren who live here in San Clemente.  I have just recently started back to sewing, creating and posting.  So I was really surprised at this honor feature from Threading My Way.

Threading My Way was one of the first linky parties I started sharing on.  My daughter Jessica of SunnyStitching suggested that I would enjoy the party.  She was so right.  Threading My Way is such a nice blog to follow and to share projects on.

Thank you Pam for continuing your great blog!

and 

Thank you for featuring the Fish Pocket Pants.

Household Hint

I think this is my first post regarding a household hint.  It is really a simple idea I had some time ago.  I use Oxi Clean Versatile Stain Remover for soaking clothes with stains, and also add it to loads of clothes in the washer.  I did not like having to find the spoon that is included in the plastic container.  So, one day I decided to simply tear back a small portion of the paper top and started just sprinkling it into the washer.  I found that such an easier way to use this great cleaner.

I know this is crazy simple idea, but I did feel creative when thinking of it!

 Unopened container of Oxi Clean.

 The paper top slightly torn back to create the opening to pour from.

After I use the amount I need, I just fold the torn edge back over the container and put the lid back on.

Fish Pocket Cargo Pants

It's time to send the September package to our grandchildren Evie and Canaan who live in England with their dad and mom (who happens to be Jessica of Sunnystitching ).  I made a pillowcase for Evie that I mentioned in my most recent post...click here to see it; it turned out really pretty.

Of course, I also wanted to make something for Canaan and decided to make another pair of cargo pants using the same pattern from the Remade Pants and Train TShirt previously posted.

I had some leftover lightweight cotton denim fabric that I had previously purchased from JoAnn's Fabrics. However, I wanted to use a colorful print for the pockets this time and went to JoAnn's with a friend Liz.  She suggested the cute fish fabric that I used....she is really good at choosing fabrics.

The pattern is Simplicity 3856, a very versatile pattern. Canaan wears the size 3.

The cargo pants are so easy to make!

A close up of the cute and happy fish fabric used for the pocket. the seams in the middle of the pocket are for the tuck

This is the "side" view of one of the legs where the pocket is sewed.

The finished Fish Pocket Cargo Pants!

Canaan, Papa wants to take you fishing when you come in December.

Maybe you can wear your "Fish Pocket Cargo Pants"

We love you, Nanny and Papa

Pink Pillowcase

Last year Jessica (SunnyStitching) and I made a quilt for Evangelyn's new bed.  We used pieces of fabric from clothes we had sewed for her and also some clothes that were her favorites.  The quilt was so beautiful and cheerful when finished.  Click here to see Jessica's post about it..you will love her fabulous blog.  I have included a picture of it below.

Several months later I used the left over scraps to make a fun "Pig Pillow" for her bed, and also made a "Pig Pillow" for her brother Canaan using scrap fabric from clothes we had made for him.  Evie still did not have a cute pillowcase so I then decided to make her one and used still remaining fabric from the pig. Here is a picture of the pigs showing the patchwork.

I found a great pattern online.  From the pattern choices for the pillowcase, i chose the basic pattern.  Then I purchased some soft cotton fabric, pink with white polka dots at JoAnn's Fabric store for the body of the pillowcase,  and started cutting and sewing.  I used the patchwork fabric leftover from the pig for the band of the pillowcase. So, the pillowcase will be shipped this week, along with the cargo pants I made for Canaan.   I think Evie will really love it.

To our precious Evie......sleep tight. 

Love, Nanny and Papa

Flaming Marshmellow - Photo of the Week

Jerry and I made smores with Henry and Corey on our barbeque grill the night of the Final Volleyball Game of the 2012 Olympics.  I took this by accident....a great accident!!!..

"The Flaming Marshmellow"

Horse Nightshirt for Corey

Wow, this is my first post in several months.  Sure hope I can remember how to do this!!!!

My granddaughter Corey is 10 years old and this summer she was blessed to have attended a horse camp at the Palomar Christian Center.  She loves horses and had such a great week there.  I had hoped to finish the nightshirt before she went to the camp but just ran out of time. 

I used McCalls Pattern M4963 and purchased the soft cotton fabric at our local JoAnn's Fabric store.  I have used this pattern for several years to make various nightshirts ad love it.  It is so easy to follow.

Pictures are below.

 I chose to make her the size Girls 10-12

 Finished!

 The nightshirt fit Corey perfect! ... and looks so so great on her!

A big thank you to anyone viewing this post.....there is definitely a season for everything.

Summer is over and sewing is back!!!!

Snails and Beer

We usually have a lot of snails that like to eat the vegetables we plant in the garden.  A friend told us she had heard of two ways to keep them away.  First method was to put crushed eggshells around each plant since the snails would not walk over them.  Next was to bury small containers level with the soil and put beer in them.  Supposedly the snails would crawl into the beer.

So we tried it!

And Guess What!..............It worked and has still worked as the vegetables have gotten larger!

Here is a photo of the first snail Jerry caught in the beer.  However, yesterday he caught 10!!!!  They must like the inexpensive beer we get at Trader Joe's!

Our garden is growing.....

Two Little Sheep

Jerry and I wanted to add two sheep to the Nativity Scene that we made last year with Corey, Henry and our neighbor's daughter Lily.  We drew the figures of Joseph, Mary, the manger and Baby Jesus on pieces of wood.  Jerry cut them out.  We all then painted them and put them in our front yard last December.  We did purchase the lighted star at Lowe's Home Improvement here in San Clemente.

However, we really missed Evie and Canaan helping us.  They had not arrived from England yet.  We knew their visit at Christmas would go by very fast.  So we decided that when they came during the summer we would add two sheep.

Jerry cut the sheep out.  He outlined them and Evie, Canaan, Corey and Henry all got to paint them together.

Here is the picture that he found online to use as a guide.  He drew it using squares to make it larger.

Then he cut the two sheep out of wood and drew on the faces.

Before the children painted them, Jerry used a Sharpie Pen to outline the details so after they were painted he could see the details and outline them again.

 

After the sheep were painted white, they used a light brown for the faces and then traced the details with a Sharpie Pen.  The feet, eyes, nose and mouth were painted with black acrylic.   After the paint dried, Jerry sprayed them with a clear matte finish.

 Oh....they are so cute!!!!!!!!

 

They are going to look so nice when added to the Nativity Scene.