Mt. Rainier and Lenticular Clouds - Dec. 2008 copyright: JMM

March 10, 2014

The Winter That Refused to End....


Or as I call it, 'Stuck Inside the House Craftapalooza 2014'.  I'm beginning to think it will never warm up again.  I got real spoiled that first winter here when it was so mild with just that one snowstorm in January.  I remember sitting out on the deck in shorts in March.  I also took the dogs to Scusset Beach that March too. I don't even remember the last time I went to the beach.  Probably in October when I went to E. Sandwich and also to Chatham!

Since I've been stuck inside, I've gotten exceptionally prolific with projects.


Now that I have finally become technologically advanced enough to figure out how to transfer pictures back and forth from my laptop to the 10 year old, modem-less, flashdrive-less, desktop computer in my craft room, it's now way easier for me to work on projects I've saved to my hard drive...stuff that doesn't require tutorials because they are pretty self-explanatory.

There were a couple of designs I wanted to try.  The top right is amber but it photographed red.


Somewhere online (probably Pinterest), I saw a necklace with a key pendant that I liked and this was my interpretation, using Czech glass.  Stringing goes much faster than this eyepin technique, but it came out nice.

Yes this is a Christmas card.  Don't judge.  I am planning on making my cards really soon anyway because I enjoy it and I have a lot of 'cardworthy friends'.  I loved this cute Rudolph cross stitch design.  Took a couple of hours to finish, mounted on blue cardstock and that was mounted on a pre-glittered card.

Since I had the red thread out, I made this stitched baseball card too.

This was a printable Grumpy Cat that you cut out and then assemble by sticking the tabs together.  Unfortunately the tabs are so narrow that it was really hard to get this thing to stick together using regular tape, glue and double stick tape.  It made me quite grumpy. Maybe that was the intent.

I can't draw at all, but I saw this on Pinterest a long time ago and thought yeah, I can totally do that! It's so easy!

Uh....not so much, no.  Think I'll just stick to beads papercrafts and needlework!  My poor Corgi has 3 peg legs.

Then later that day, this arrived from my dear friend Tracy, from the Pull Up a Toadstool blog!!  Sugar cookie mix in an adorable Bumbles oven mitt!!!!   With cutter!  The mitt's just way too cute to use though.

So after dinner, I made them, complete with homemade icing, a first for me.  And I used WAY too much vanilla extract...less than what the recipe called for, yet it was very strong.  That's why I dumped so many sprinkles on it.  The cookies taste good though!

What should I make next?!?!  How about more keys?




My bff Michelle said that the one on the right looked like an owl.  Now I can't unsee it!  This was completely unintentional.



I'm sure winter will end in time for me to be stuck inside the house for the hot, humid summer months!

28 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:53 AM

    No judging here, my friend. You have talent that I will never possess. My first winter here was mild too. Then it snowed all the time and then got mild again only to return to even more snow this winter. I'm so done!

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    1. It's funny but I scheduled this last week to post today. And what did I wake up to this morning? Snow. It's snowing AGAIN. Ugh. As for your statement about not having talent...I think everyone has some kind of creative talent. You just have to find what it is you like to do and practice.

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  2. Love the steampunk keys JoJo! Especially those ones with wings... very cool.

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    1. Thanks! I just got some old watches at a flea market and took them apart for the gears and such too.

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  3. It's amazing how much artistic value you're able to add to a formerly plain key.

    I love the Xmas reindeer, blue background and button nose. That's all I thought when I saw it, not "Why the hell is she going all Xmassy in March?"

    I'll keep saying these two words until the sunshine starts: Hot.Cocoa!

    Be well, JoJo.
    xoRobyn

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    1. Small wonder my eyesight is ruined from all this close up work with tiny things. lol Today might be a hot cocoa day too.

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  4. I love your keys and absolutely LOVE that owl one. That is the bomb diggity!!! I LOVITY LOVE it!!! ♥

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    1. That owl was completely unintentional. I didn't even see it till Michelle pointed it out.

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  5. Anonymous3:08 PM

    At least you're making good use of your 'snow days' :0)

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    1. Yes...nothing else to do. Too cold and raw to even take a walk.

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  6. I admire your creativity and think these are great gift ideas. Thanks for sharing,

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    1. Thanks Michelle! I am hoping to have better success at the fall craft shows this year.

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  7. Anonymous4:31 PM

    Omg, tell yo' man to move over! I'm moving in with you! Hahahaha! I've been creating like I'm an addict! Of course getting everything organized to create is a bit time consuming, especially since I work primarily - at the moment - with fabrics and now I'm on this kick where I'm making stuff ONLY for me! What a selfish bitch I am but I've made and made and made so much stuff for others I just wanted something for me.. I love those bracelets and I saw the post with the blinged out bottle! I LOVE IT!!!!

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    1. OOOOO Whatcha makin???? I hope you post pics on your blog! It's not selfish at all....I make stuff just for li'l ol' me all the time!

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  8. I wanted to cry when I woke up and saw snow this morning. Make it stop! So impressed with your craftiness though. I wish I'd used my winter hibernation in a more productive way!

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    1. It wasn't doing anything at 4 when I let my dog out. I, too, wanted to cry when I got up at 8. Ugh. MAKE IT STOP!

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  9. Wow! Your beautifully creative work is beyond craftwork into the realm of artistry. Very impressive. Keep your craft supplies out. I hear more snow is headed your way this week.

    Lee
    Wrote By Rote
    An A to Z Co-host blog

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    1. Thank you Arlee, you are too kind. :) If only more people would BUY my stuff. Maybe my stuff will become priceless after I'm dead. lol

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  10. Wow. You should be stuck in the house more often :) I love your work. you are such a creative person.

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    1. Thank you so much! Oh I'm sure I'll be stuck in the house all summer again, this time hiding from the heat and humidity. lol

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  11. I agree with you, winter needs to be over!! I love the keys, they are very cool.
    Valerie
    Everyday Inspired

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    1. Thanks Valerie! I hope this storm is the last one and only brings rain instead of snow!

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  12. Your Grumpy cat made me laugh!!! You are so creative and talented JoJo, I wouldn't worry about the Corgi! Lol

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    1. Thanks! I'm just real hard on myself if I don't do a good job on the first try. lol

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  13. JoJo, you have been one busy lady. I love the Key Necklace with all the glass beaded links, it turned out beautifully. And speaking of keys, you do have a knack for embellishing them, they are all fantastic but I must admit the little "owl" key stole my heart - it is precious.

    Hopefully Winter will give up soon and let Spring come. I know the northern climates are getting sick of all the ice and snow.

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    1. Thank you so much! I love keys. I need to buy more!!!! I'm hoping winter goes away soon but it's not looking good. More storms next week. :(

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  14. Those keys are beautiful! I can't decide if I like the red one or the winged-clock one best, but I love them all :D And your reindeer is SO CUTE!!! Was he a kit or a pattern?

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    1. Thank you so much! The reindeer was a picture on Pinterest that was close enough that I could figure out the stitch count from the photo and match the floss pretty closely from my stash.

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