Dec 3, 2014 |
I love pine cones. They’re fresh, woodsy, and versatile. Most stores sell them in bags, or if you have neighbors with pine trees, you can ask them for the dropped cones.
Next to my Nutcracker Village, this is one of my favorite Christmas decorations.
A display of pine cones brings a touch of the outdoors inside, and adds a splash of color to any Christmas shelf.
Pine Cones in a Sleigh
This craft is extremely easy. You’ll need:
- A display container
- Pine cones
- Garland or other decorative filler
- Spray paint
- Newspaper (optional)
Start by selecting pine cones that are sized for your container. You can use a decorative item like a sleigh or basket, or you can paint a shoe box or other container.
If you’re using fresh pine cones, I recommend putting them upside down or sideways on a cookie sheet in the oven at 200 degrees for approximately twenty minutes. After removing from the oven, let cool then carefully tap them. This will remove any seeds and tiny bugs that might be hiding.
Once you have your cones selected, lay several them out on a newspaper or plastic sheet, and spray paint. Allow them to dry for at least 24 hours.
Depending on the size of your container, you may want to crumple some newspaper to put under the cones and garland. This will add height and dimension to your display.
Arrange the garland/filler and top with your painted and unpainted cones.
Display of Pine Cones in a Sleigh
You can add candy canes, jingle bells, winter flowers, or whatever holiday decor works best with your other decor.
The price will range, depending on your container, garland/filler selection, and how many cones you paint. Try different cone sizes. Sprinkle with holiday glitter. Top with a small Santa doll. Make it your own.
However you decorate this season, I wish you a Merry one!
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
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Dec 2, 2014 |
Sounds simple, right? But until two years ago, I didn’t know how beautiful such an idea could be.
Holiday Candles on the Mantle
The local dollar store or thrift store is a great source for inexpensive supplies.
- Votive glasses
- Decorative stones
- Platter or tray
- battery votive candles
I found this great candle, tray and stone set two years ago for $14. I just had to add the candles. Since then, I’ve seen similar product at dollar and thrift stores, but I prefer the great selection at craft stores. Choose your product with whatever color scheme you like. Pink glass on a long silver tray. White glass on a circular white plate. Red and green glass on a gold square. Place the battery candles into the votive glasses and arrange them on the tray with the decorative stone. Although the battery candles are a little expensive ($20 for twenty-four), they last quite a while and won’t scorch the glass.
Candles on the Mantle
It makes a great table-topper or mantle decoration.
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They also make great hostess gifts, as you can easily put together your own with as little or as many candles as you want.
For a child’s craft, select clear or solid frosted votive glasses and help them apply Christmas stickers to the outside, then coat with a clear protective gloss or decoupage glue.
Happy Holidaying!
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
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Dec 1, 2014 |
A few weeks ago, Dot surprised me by crafting this wonderful piece.
Autumn Wreath by Dot
The colors are subtle yet attractive. It’s the perfect fit for our Italian Coffee House color scheme at Bedford Manor.
I haven’t crafted for quite some time. Around here, we’ve been deep cleaning and decorating and working and writing. Feeling very productive. But there’s something about crafting that soothes my soul.
And Dot knows it. So on Black Friday, she surprised me by taking me to Hobby Lobby with a $20 budget. At first, I didn’t know what to do. There are so many wonderful options! I did know, rather than buying decor, I wanted to make something.
Hobby Lobby is a great store. Each week they have a 40% off coupon which you can get by email or a smart phone app. And they always have amazing sales.
With less than $20 and thirty minutes, you can make your own wreath from start to finish.
You’ll need:
- a natural wreath
- two complimentary stems, flowers, or other flora
- embellishment
- hot glue gun with extra glue sticks
- heavy-duty scissors or wire cutters
Sort your crafting product and keep everything within easy reach.
Cardinal Wreath Ingredients
Ladybug Wreath Ingredients
If it’s important for the wreath to have a “top”, make sure you decide which part of the wreath that will be, then mark it so your work isn’t lopsided. I glued a penny to the back of my wreaths.
Penny on Wreath
Separate your stems as necessary. Most pull apart but some are wired and require cutting. You can also shape most to contour to the frame of the wreath.
Shapely Flora
Working with one flora at a time (the greens), carefully glue the end of the first stem then gently push it into the wreath. Work your way around the wreath until the full circle is lightly covered. Then take the second flora and glue them in place as well. You may need to re-glue some pieces as you go along. Finally, add your embellishments. Larger embellishments sometimes come on a twining stem, which is useful for wrapping around the flora to keep it in place.
When you’re finished, gently remove any residual strings of glue by pulling them off the wreath. If you like, string a long ribbon or hang with an over-the-door hanger. I left mine as is, to let the recipients decide how and where to best display their gift.
The end result is a craft that you’ve made yourself, and can customize for your home or someone else’s.
Cardinal Wreath
Ladybug Wreath
And now, finally, it’s beginning to look … well, you know.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
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Aug 24, 2014 |
The wind has been blowing here at Bedford Manor. At times its brought with it a cleansing rain, at others, it just stirs the dust. There’s been heat, sun, clouds, humidity, wind, and stillness. The weather just can’t make up its mind.
Rain on a Leaf
It’s symbolic of how I’ve been feeling lately ~ uncertain as to my purpose. I hit a rather large wall of writer’s block last month and it’s taken me until two days ago to chisel it down.
I’d previously set a goal to have the first (and hopefully only) draft of NOLA finished by now. I’d wanted to start marketing it for sale in October. Instead, I’m rewriting the beginning and incorporating bits and pieces of what I’ve already done.
Most writers will advocate for writing the first draft in its entirety before starting any edits. I usually agree. Except NOLA needed a change. Without changing the beginning, I couldn’t coherently string those changes through the rest of the text. So I threw my self-imposed deadline out the window and, to the cheers of my writing mentor and critique group, am focusing on quality, not quantity.
I’ve been blessed with a friendship with Ms. New Orleans 2014, Lindsay Reine. Not only is she full of information on New Orleans, she’s become my newest cheerleader.
I still have my #DoingTheWriteThing fundraiser but I’ve amped it up a little. On the advice of several friends, I began a GoFundMe campaign. I like it for a variety of reasons. There’s no deadline, no all-or-nothing criteria. And it’s incredibly easy to navigate, update, and share.
I currently have three sponsors for a total of $110.00. It may not sound like much, but it’s eleven thousand pennies more than I had a month ago!
My Penny Jar
I must be doing something right, or should I say, write. I’m thankful for each of you, all of you, who believe in what I do, and who are helping me to achieve the goals of taking one step at a time. Some steps are bigger than others, and sometimes I have to take a step back. But a trusted person once told me
One Step Forward
Being a Christian and writing a murder mystery can be dichotic but not mutually exclusive. Ted Dekker does a fine job of weaving intrigue and sinister acts into redeeming storylines. I can do the same.
So I will continue to work on NOLA, and trust you’ll understand my delay. I’d much rather present you with a take-your-breath-away piece of writing in a few months or even a year or two, than to sell something now that you wouldn’t take off the bookshelf again, or worse, recommend to a friend.
I’m back in the saddle with blogging too, but I’ve a suspicion you may already know this.
During the holidays, I hope to add a few craft and decorating ideas as well as some recipes and reviews.
In the meantime, I’ll continue to pray, work, take care of Bedford Manor, and of course, I’ll keep #DoingTheWriteThing.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
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Jan 7, 2014 |
It’s official: the end of the winter Holidays is here.
Tonight I put away my treasured Nutcracker Village.
It’s nice to have my coffee table back in use as a magazine rack, fishbowl stand and, well, a coffee table.
The cats are happy their platform bed is available again.
And while it’s nice to not have to lean too far to the left or right to see Dot on the other side of the room, I miss my Nutcrackers.
Baker Nutcracker
King Wenceslas
I’ll take the tree down tomorrow.
Christmas Tree
I’m sad to see the season go. Once the hustle-bustle-busyness of Christmas came and went, I finally found myself enjoying the lights and music and Christmas Spirit.
And now it’s over.
I guess it’s time to finish the Spring cleaning I started last year.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
