Bow Making Tutorial

When I was young I had a job with a department store working in their display department. It was a stepping stone to bigger and better things but the experience was invaluable in many ways. I learned the advertising business well and I picked up how to make bows. Now, can you beat that? ;-) It has served me well. So when froufrou-ing up the tree this year I thought about it and decided to give you a tutorial on making bows the absolutely easiest way. I bought this large roll of sparkly silver ribbon just to show you. While this is 4" wide, it can be done with smaller width ribbon.

Make several loops of ribbon. I did about 8 here to show you. The more loops you make the "fluffier" the bow.

While I did 12" long loops they can certainly be smaller.

Now, you will cut a "V" in the middle on each side being very careful to not cut through; otherwise, you have loops of useless ribbon. (Hmmmm, but I'd figure out something to do with it, for sure, chicks!)

Now, with a piece of string or yarn, tie it tight.

Then start separating the loops. One to the right, one to the left and so on until you've brought all of the loops towards you and twisted a bit to make them stay in place.

I do from right to left and front to back with each loop. You'll adjust better later. Now you are just separating the loops.

Now, just fluff and adjust and you'll have the best looking bow in your neighborhood.

The final bow. I used these on the tree. Using this kind of ribbon isn't the best but it'll do for decorating or any kind. I'd normally use an organza ribbon for this, but you can use any kind you want.

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My New Toy

While visiting with granddaughter and her hubby for Thanksgiving I got this new little toy. Squeeeeeeeeal and eeeeeeeek...for $74.88!! Yesssss, I saved $125.00 on this little jewel. Now, I have no idea how to use it yet but I'm going to learn just as quickly as I can. (Please read random thought at bottom of this post.) It's a Cricut machine and cuts shapes and letters. Love Bunny thought it will benefit him with his model RR train hobby. See my "plot" here?! He even went with me to Joanns in Bellevue to help make sure we got one since they were limited. This is no small feat for this man. He does NOT like shopping for anything other than "guy" things and food. But he drove and stood in lines and dodged insanely bickering women to help me.

~*~

The other thing I want to tell you about is something I remember from my youth and hearing grownups talking about movie stars, and then later television stars, being photographed behind gauze. My gauze is purple from a project many years ago so I used fine tulle netting. The idea was that it softened the lines and complexion of stars because they're just like you and me, chicks; they get old, wrinkled and have zits. This is before botox I think.

Anyway, I tried it and it works. Now, this was taken with my iSight webcam and that's a pretty basic camera, although, everyone who talks to me says the picture is great. (I've never seen myself on my own webcam on someone's computer and know nothing about how it looks to them.) It should be; that little puppy cost me $150.00 about 7 years ago! See how soft it looks. It does look like a "film" is over it but remember, I used netting instead of gauze. I think I'll try it on a photo shoot outside soon. Lighting is not the best in this room.

~*~

Random Thought:

As you may or may not know, we don't watch television. When we visit our kids and if the television is on we'll watch with them for a small time, but it holds no interest at all for us. Never do we watch it at home because it's tucked away in a box and used as a side table. We only bring it out for our grandkids and kids to play games on when they visit. We do not watch because of all the trash on television today. Those of us raised with tv in the 50s and 60s know, but those of you born in the 80s and 90s probably think this trash is the norm. It is NOT. Hence, I'm a bit ignorant about how to pronounce some names and things. For instance, I only heard Jackie Kennedy speak once in my life and I was amazed at her little girl whispery voice. Not something I would have expected her to sound like. Plus that was years after her life as First Lady.

So also I have no clue how to pronounce Cricut. When I walked into Joanns and asked for a Cricut the man said, "Oh, you mean a Cricut" and pronounced it like Cricket. I was pronouncing it like "cry cut" and had no clue. So I don't know how to pronounce Thule. Hubby thinks it's Tulley but I'm wondering if it's Thule like the th in thimble. Can anyone enlighten me on how to pronounce it?
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A Redo for My Plant Shelf

It started with an idea and an urn and went down hill on that slippery slope from there, chicks. *Sigh*......

After buying some silver branches at Michaels and then cutting several off our apple and pear tree, it still looked very sad indeed.

The first sad attempt. Styrofoam and hot glue.

Okay, after some consulting with an online blogger who is a florist (and kind enough to help me) she said I needed to go straight up and not out to the sides. Fill in the center more. Sooooo, it was off to Joanns for more "fill-in" and this is what I have now. Yes, I like it much better.

Hmmmm, not too sure about the green grasses so painted some flora that came with one of the bundles pink:

Still not too keen on the green, brown, silver and beige colors in there all mixed together. So I decided to...

...paint it all pink.

So here I am before the dawn on the patio spraying the whole shebang with pink paint in 19° weather. (But it's a "dry" cold. *Smirk*) Love Bunny is still asleep, but last night he came home from a train club open house and complained that the pine cones I painted weren't smelling cinnamon-y but like paint fumes. I told him he was one paint job behind. It was the little flora I painted outside while he was gone.


So again at the first light before the sun was up, I was again outside photographing the display.

More tags, silk ribbon embroidery and cards I've received...

little fuchsia balls...

pink pine cones, clay roses by my friend, Lorena...

...RED berry sticks...

...and the little tree topper—a dress form swathed in tulle and red polka dots.

A banner of felt silk ribbon embroidery by another friend, Shirl.

A silk ribbon embroidered mitten by Katie peeking through all the "fluff" and a decorated cone from Ele. A card from Lynn.

Teapot ornaments by Rhea. Tags from Vickie, Steph and Judy. A little tussie mussie from Bertie. A blue Christmas ball painted by Jennifer.

Here it is on my plant shelf.

I love it up there and is quite a visible display for visitors.

This is my tribute to the women of my eBay group who have lasted the three and a half years with me. They deserve accolades and a standing ovation for their creativity and love. Thank you all!
~*~

A Little Bird Told Me.....

Are these not beautiful? Thinking today of the ultimate sacrifice these bring to mind.

I do not cast my pearls before swine.

Not an olive branch but a fir tree to remind us of the season and the Sacrifice.

Home—no matter how small and humble it is— is my celestial place on earth, free from the storms of life.

The crown of thorns Someone once wore for me. My glass is always full!

Someday will life be a peppermint stick and cherries?

And sing your sweet little song of grace.

So little snowbird take me with you when you go
To that land of gentle breezes
where the peaceful waters flow...
~*~

Making Up My Mind on a Project

I have this vision in my head of what I want to do with this little dress form but just not ready to start it yet. (Do any of you have this same problem: trying to figure out what to do creatively with something?) Working on another project at the moment. Is there ever enough time to do what we want to do? Right now my house is a shambles from the holidays and it's driving me nuts because I had to "store" some tables from the living room in my craft/sewing room to be able to put up the tree. For an OCD chick, this is torture! Love Bunny does NOT understand. I may have to shoot him!

Okay, I took a break for several days and this is what I think I want to do with it. It is all pinned on at the moment but I like it.


It would make a sweet valentine gift for a friend I think—a froufrou chick, maybe. Hmmmmm.........
~*~