Crackerbox

Out with the old...

At least for this year.

All of my Christmas decorations are still in an attic in Tennessee, so we are making do this year and it has been fine so far. I scavenged some holiday decor at my Mom and Dad's last weekend when we got the tree. The one thing I was really missing was our stockings.  The ones we use every year were made for the kids by my Grandmother. They match the one she made me when I was a kid.

So instead of buying us new stockings I whipped these up tonight.

I was most definitely bending the rules. I had no pins and no iron so they are extremely rough around the edges. I used clothes pins to pin pieces together.

 

Juliana has requested a crocheted stocking. I am hoping she will like these and change her mind. I have a pattern and yarn but not sure I have the gumption to get it finished in a timely fashion. Also not sure I know how to spell gumption. Is it even a real word.

In other news... a doggy has come to live with us on a trial basis. I think she is the kind of dog we can handle. House trained already, 10 years old and sleepy. I might be able to handle that.

Promenade Market Update

It looks like I will not be peddling my wares at the Promenade Farmer's Market this weekend. The organizer man told me that he had enough vendors and that he would like me to start selling in January. He thinks the seasonal folks will be here in full force and that I would do well if I waited until then. I was a little disappointed. I have been preparing and am ready to go. I'm looking for another venue if you have any ideas. Have a great night...

Our Tree

How does a person go hunting for their Christmas tree in South Florida.....why barefoot of course.

We struck out into the Alva countryside in search of the perfect tree.

 

Our fearless leader...

 

That's it....we found it.

 

The muscle behind the operation...

 

Everyone got a turn...

Loaded up and ready to go...

 

Ta Daaaa...Here she is equal parts Charlie Brown and Jed Clampitt...but we love her and this tree is bringing lots of joy to our house.A perfect start to our holidays.

I hope yours are starting out equally as terrific!!!

Congrats Carl and Nellie

Yesterday we spent a fun afternoon and evening at the Wagoner house celebrating Carl and Nellie's engagement. It was a grand time filled with lots of food and family. Going to their house feels like going home and I was happy to share in the celebration.

Some highlights for the kids...

Tangerines right off the tree...

And of course the fire....

My childhood is filled with lots of memories of being around the fire out there in  Briarcliff. It was sweet to see my kids having the same fun I remember and being able to celebrate Carl and Nellie moving forward into a new phase in their life....it felt a little tribal. It is nice to feel like apart of a clan.

I didn't remember my camera of course, these were taken with my iphone. 

I did however remember to take it with me today when we cut down our Christmas tree at my parents place out in Alva.  Stay tuned.
 
 
 
  

In Honor of Black Friday a little Shameless Self Promotion

This is a little hostess gifty I made for my Thanksgiving hosts. Such sweet friends that included me in their Thanksgiving.  A true blessing since it was the first holiday I spent without my kids.

It is a hand crocheted dish scrubber and a bar of organic soap.

I will be selling these along with other handmade items at the Promenade Farmer's Market in Bonita Springs starting Saturday, December 5th.

Stay tuned I will feature more items that will be available in the coming days.

Harley Says......

Happy ThanksGiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe....

I have not posted here since September 11th. Wow. This blog was such a fun place for me and I have just totally neglected it. My creative side kind of took a break over the summer. Every once in a while  I would get a little inspiration, but the follow through just wasn't there. 

I haven't been able to remember to take my camera with me when I go to camera worthy places. There have been plenty of beach picnics and cow watching even a forest fire at my parents house but not a single picture to share. 

I have started working on what I hope will be a series of paintings. I am not sure I have any skill in the painting department, but I love to try and I love figures. So I am trying my hand at it these days. Like I say, I am not feeling confident in sharing these, but what the hey...

I did these string things over the summer and I am planning to cover most of the canvas with that technique.  The painting is pretty flat. I have been thinking about crocheting with a very fine thread and stretching that over my tacks. And after seeing this beautiful post  about incorporating fabric into paintings it really has my wheels turning. 

 
  It's a beginning which my world is full of these days. But beginnings are good things.   

Abstract expressionist self portraits

My students are awesome.

What a week...

It's Thursday and we are finishing up the first week of school for all of us.

The girls started back on Monday and since it was my first day as well, their dad took them to school. I was a little bummed to miss it, but I got lots of photos.

 

I am so proud of my girls.

 

My little Juju starting Kindergarten......what a cutie. Usually she is so quiet but not this week. I thought it would be tough to get details out of her, but she is chatting up a storm. It was like something clicked in her. A little change, a little more grown up. She was so ready for it.

 

Here is Helena on her way to second grade. How is that possible? That my baby is a few weeks shy of 8 years old? AAAGGHHHHH.

And here are a few photos from my class. I honestly felt like I was totally pretending to be a teacher and was extremely nervous on Monday morning. But, something happened when the bell rang and it all fell into place.  The kids are amazing.  They are precious and talented and I feel lucky to be there. I kind of feel like they are teaching me. I've already had some really unique experiences and I can only imagine what's in store. I can't wait.

I painted this on the wall over the summer.

Some of the kids working on the first project.

Check out those drawings. They did a great job of posing for each other and doing gestural figure drawings. They are making some sculptures based on their favorite drawing that they did. Thanks Amber for the idea.

I feel so blessed to be in the classroom with these kids. I am looking forward to a year filled with joy and challenges too. Because I can already tell, some of these kiddos are going to challenge me. So many good things are happening in my life.

Continuation on a Theme

Beach Picnics...I know I know get original and do something else interesting right? But just check out the lighting and the cutie pie....

And this one...

Have a good evening...