Miniature Gypsy Caravan Birdhouse Ornament

 Hello Mini Friends!!  I guess this is part three of my bird Christmas tree project...  the Gypsy Caravan.  This one was fun!  I added much more detail on the inside.  I love that adding one string light from the tree will light up the inside.  Do miniatures ever make you want to shrink yourself down to size and look around?  Surely I'm not the only one with this imagination.

This one was really fun to make.  I looked around on the internet to find what shape I wanted and just went to cutting out pieces of chipboard.  

The inside was also a lot of fun.  I used fabric scraps for the bedding and curtains, jewelry pieces and sequins for wall decor and a fortune teller sign that I made last year.

The roof was one to figure out!  I wound up cutting a piece of cardstock and using it as the base of my roof.  Mainly because I knew I wanted slats and didn't want light coming through when it's on the tree.

Sometimes I feel like I go a little wild with the painting details.  And sometimes more is better.  

Each birdhouse has special eggs inside.  I make them by wadding up foil and covering with thin clay.  When dry, the eggs get painted to sort of match the birdhouse.  These are magical gypsy eggs with stars and rhinestones.  I never skip the chance to use rhinestones!

I didn't detail the bottom on the first two houses I made.  I really think it needs it because it may be higher up on the tree and you see the bottom.  And also, always sign your work.

I pondered about the wheels for a while.  Matter of fact for years I have pondered on how to make wagon wheels.  It seems to always come up eventually.  For these I used some white, round rings that I found in a stash of old buttons.  I don't know their original use but I had several.  I cut toothpicks for the spokes and used two sequins for the center caps.  Wagon wheel problem solved!

Here is the whole set so far.  And yes, I am working on number six!  So far it is bigger than these but that's ok.  The good thing about making your own ornaments is that it's totally your choice!

Once again, Thank You for stopping by and allowing me to share my projects with you!!

Stay tuned for the next birdhouse!

Also, any ideas on more ornaments for my bird tree??

Until next time,  XOXO ~Laurie

  

beads n feathers

I needed to make some feathers hanging on strings for part of my niece's birthday presents.  One for a window and the other for... well... she hasn't gotten it yet so I can't say.  It's just added décor.  I also was in the mood for something like this after putting up a tension rod in my bathroom window and hanging lovely draping sheers that I can pull back but still enjoy the view when they are open.  It's not exactly what I've been itching for in there but it will work.  Anyway, I want something special and reflective hanging in that window as well. So. Today at the day care I gathered up feathers and beads and twine and string and within minutes I had some beautiful boho gems!  It's going to be hard to let any of them go.  But they are lovely charms that are charming the heck out of me!

 

I simply tied the twine around the top of the feathers and strung beads on.  Not a tough thing to do at all but oh so pretty.  Please excuse the lack of a good backdrop in the pics!

 

 



Around Here

This post could partially fall into the Around Here category because it involves what has been happening around here but also Image Inspiration because my decision and confidence came from pictures found on the internet.  So, here's the scoop.

When we built our home five years ago we chose not to install blinds on our windows.  We have no neighbors and if anybody is out there peeping in chances are we heard them get here or the dog soon will alert us.  I quite enjoy the openness.  But... sometimes I find myself wanting to shut out the light and take a nap and sometimes I get a little edgy when the mood is right that there are open windows right there knowing there are lights on in here and none out there which means at night you can clearly see in here.  You get the picture.  So I finally decided to put some curtains up in our bedroom.  I didn't want to go drilling holes in the wall for something big and fancy... that's just not me.  But I wanted something more than sheers.  After finding a lovely picture on the internet of patchwork curtains made from vintage hankies I knew what my project would consist of.

Last summer, my sister Mary Evelyn and I ventured to an estate sale in which I came home with many items.  Such items included an old charcoal grill in which we proceeded that evening to have what I called an "Old Fashioned Charcoal Grill Out Party" with my sister and her husband, and a big box of vintage fabric.  I do own several old handkerchiefs but not near enough for what I needed.  When I started pulling the old fabrics out and ironing them I got pretty excited.  When I began sewing them together I got even more excited and as of today I have one more to finish and our lovely curtains are done.  Oh, and I chose tension rods to hang them by.  I like the price of the rods (at $2.47 each and WalMart) and I like that if I get tired of the curtains I can easily take them down.  And I like that I didn't drill holes in the walls and buy big rods and hangers and all that.   I did use one hankie per curtain and I wound up cutting out seventy something, thirteen inch squares.  On the up side I have plenty of practice when I go to making my quilt this year.  I just miht need to hit up another estate sale for more vintage fabric!

Here's the picture of the inspiration curtain.

Mine is not sewn near as perfect looking as these... but I am not a perfect girl and care nothing about perfection.  Here they are.

I do like the fact that light can still come through.  The hankies were a bit tough because they were different sizes that the pieces that I cut.  I hemmed the sides and bottom of each curtain and simply made an inch and a half loop and sewed it also at the top for the rod to go through.  

P.S. Sorry about Juanita's appearance.  I had just turned her and watered her so she wasn't much into smiling.  

welcoming fall

Instead of allowing the fall/winter blues to set in this year I am trying something new.  A new point of view.  I began by verbally being thankful for summer, for the season and all it held for me... such as hot weather (which I adore so), our garden and all the canning I did, friends, family, just basically everything I was allowed to experience and hold dear during the season.  I am now thankful for the coming season and welcoming it as a break from some of my work and deeds that summer holds.  I am enjoying the sun coming up a little later (until the time changes).  I held this as sort of a ritual and plan on doing the same on the last official day of fall.  I think this will help my blues and maybe make them non-existent. Last night we had a friend over from Texas that I haven't seen in a long long time.  We laughed, talked, had supper and really enjoyed our time together which was awesome and a great way to spend the last day of summer... with a great person and sharing.

Also yesterday, to welcome fall at the day care, I printed out outlines of leaves on white card stock for myself and the kids to color.  I then cut out a circle from card board and glued the colored leaves on it making a fall wreath for our back door.  It turned out lovely.  The kids also colored pictures of a squirrel with an acorn and leaves that says "Autumn" to hang on the door.  

Welcoming the season ahead by acknowledging the blessings that the previous season held is giving me a bit of a different outlook on the colder months ahead.  Maybe I will allow myself to enjoy them a little more.

Had to involve refreshments of grape kool aid and chocolate animal crackers.

Me and Precious Sass!

By the way... we found a new home for sweet Gypsy.  I miss her so much but she now has a home on fifteen acres, with a horse, other dogs and most importantly a boy of eight which I know her soul needed.  It makes me sad and happy at the same time.  Her new owner has sent me a picture of her.  I feel they will love her.  I had a harder time with it than I thought I would.  This morning Kate seemed to really notice that her playmate wasn't there so I played frisbee with her in my robe outside for a bit even though I was short on time.  

Here's a little tune from one of my favorite movies Practical Magic.  Good for the season change.

zinnia girl

a couple of times now, on trips to what used to be our garden where my flowers still grow until a nasty frost takes them from me, Gypsy seems to find her way in to the middle of my flower bed.  she tip toes amongst the zinnias.  and by tip toes i mean she just traipses right through the middle of them and plops down.  i think she thinks she's purty.  we are still trying to find a forever home for her.  she needs the comfort of indoors mainly because her short hair and cool temperatures do not mix.  please help us in this effort.  she's too sweet.

 i think katie bug is rolling her eyes right here.  sometimes she likes having a sister around and sometimes she does not.