Worth a Mint!

Since we are doing an altered mints tin with fibers for a fiber art group, I decided to submit a tutoral on one that I have made. This particular mint tin stands so it gave me an idea to make a whimsical sitting art doll. Click her to enlarge and see her detail.



First you need to purchase a tin of mints. Empty them in a bowl and feast on them while you work:) Use an awl or a nail and punch a hole in the top for head placement and one on each side for the arms about 1 inch down. As you can see, I also punched holes for the legs, but later decided to sew them to the body so I didn't need them after all.



Next you will need to have a piece of fabric for the body. I machine quilted a piece on thin cotton batting and then cut down to the size to fit around the tin. Approx. 2 1/2 X 4 1/2. I finished the edges by satin stitching with a rayon thread all the way around. For the legs and arms, I used a double knit striped fabric. Make them the length that you wish. I seem to think that long whimsical legs are most fun. Mine are 15 " long. I cut the strips 1 1/2" wide and sewed 1/4 inch seam allowance and turned with a Fasttube tool. The arm fabric is 1 1/2 " X 5 1/2 inches long.





As you can see in this photo above, I sewed the legs right onto the body fabric and fited the body around the tin. Notice that I didn't cover the top edge where the lid comes down. You can either glue your fabric on or what I did was whip stitch the back enclosure. Then you can take wire to form the arms. I used about a 10 inch 20 gauge wire and formed a loop. Make a hole through the fabric and the prepunched hole. Twist and fan out. I also covered it with a piece of duct tape on the inside so that it would be smooth so I could later put something in the tin.





Next add the sleeves by rolling the edge 1/4 inch down and sew it to the body by hand. Don't worry if the sleeves are too long as you will be adding the hands later and can trim and fold the cuff as needed. I also used a little bit of Fun wire for the ankle and feet. If you wish make the whole leg more posible, you can fill in the length. Sew the legging toe closed. Add a bell or a piece of a feathered boa.





Form the hands with fimo clay in a hand mold or if you wish, make a mitten or you could even add beads for the hands. I looped a piece of wire and added it the the wrist and baked it for 275 degrees for 30 min. I then took the arm wire loop and bent it back like a hook and attached it to the loop of the hand.



Then I took and extra piece of Fun wire and wrapped around the wrist area to reinforce it for posing.




For the head, I used a wooden bead with a wide hole in it. I looped a piece of boa feathers with wire twists. I made a collar from wired ribbon.





I glued the ribbon down for the neck area and ran the wire from the head into the tin. More glue at the base of the head and twisted the under wire and again covered it with duct tape. You can now paint the face and add any embellishments you wish.
Put a special trinket in the tin to give to someone. After all, you ate all the mints!!!

Happy New Year!!!

Father Time has told me it's about time I update my blog!
Before I get too far behind, I did promise to put up some photographs of things I did, Many were Christmas gifts and had to wait until they were opened, so as not to spoil the surprise. I finished a quilt for a customer that was to be a gift. I love bright colors and this pattern called Rotura gives it a neat ethnic feel. I have another quilt I finished up. As soon as I get the binding on, I shall photograph. OHHH did I tell you I got a new camera for Christmas? I am sure you can tell which photos were done with the new camera! I am so excited to have better color and detail!




I also made some ornaments and many opened to reveal a hiding place for something to tuck in. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo of the inside of square one after it was finished. I added two pieces of felt squares and sewed it along the diagonal and it would become not only an ornament but a needle case. I also added a pair of embroidery sissors on a beaded fob and some extra needles and beads for the recipient to use the ornament/case all year round. In the smaller pieces, I added some small bead packets.






I also made other types of small enclosures for gifts as well as business card holders that when you pull the string the card pops up as if by magic. This concept was by a dear friend that owns the Fiber Art Trader group, Norma Jean Brevik. I made up my own ideas for the cards. Some were fancy stitched, some were done with beads while others with tatting. While I take credit for the designs, my friend Peggy Crosby does the lovely tatting. I know how to crochet, but never have picked up the knack to tat.









I also got some wallets and purses made for gifts. This first one with the horses was for my aunt who lives in Montana and barrel races, so I felt this one was fitting for her:)



This one I made for my youngest sister. It's on the order of a chinese takeout box.





Don't you just love this center draw bag? It was a bugger to figure out, but I love it! I can hardly wait to make one for myself!





A wallet I designed. I photographed it earlier, but coloration wasn't as good so I am glad to try again with my new camera. This time you can see the back of it.

T'was The Night Before Christmas

....And the cats were all nestled and snuggled in their bed, with thoughts of juicy mice, that danced in their head....
Well 4 of them anyway. The other two naughty ones were still awake and prancing around in the house. I guess Santa Paws won't be bringing them anything. ho ho ho. Note their little kitty stockings hanging on the tree.
I have neglected my blog for awhile. Some things I just couldn't post, because of course they are Christmas gifts! I have been busy as an elf in the workshop this past month creating gifts for friends and family. I will post them after the holidays as shhhh.... they can't peak until then!

Tagged

I have been tagged by Marloes

These are the rules
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. List 7 things about yourself. Some random, some weird.
3. Tag 3 more players and let them know.

The 7 things about me

1. I have been to all 50 US states and 19 countries.
2. I am an ailuromaniac (look that one up) I have 8.
3. I love feathers and winged things.
4. My favorite food is sea food.
5. My middle sister and I are the same age one week out of the year.
6. I have a BS degree in art and education
7. I grew up in North Dakota

I shall now tag Linda, Gabriela and Michelle.

What are the odds?

Have you ever had a connection with something or somebody that it seemed too coincidental that it was erie? It has a couple of times for me, but this one just seemed too remarkable!

I have traded on Swapbot and although I don't trade as much as I would like, I felt very compelled to join a dragonfly ATC exchange since I love winged things. The exchange is purely random and even the host of the swap doesn't know who she gets paired up with. As it turns out, I read the gal's profile of whom I was paired with in Mississippi and much of her was like me! We both loved peacock feathers, bold bright colors, zebras, painting, beads, etc. We also post things that we are hunting for and one thing she was looking for, caught my eye. It was an aluminum Colander with a star pattern and I knew just where to find one locally. I also searched for other star patterns for her and naturally checked ebay. One was particularly different than what I had seen locally that was a vintage one and this one was new. I wasn't sure if it was stainless steel or aluminum so I did an enquiry. I also noticed that the place that it was located was at a hardware store in McVille, ND. It's a small town in the middle of no where and it's not likely no one would really know where it was on the map let alone has been there. Mind you I live in Ohio, but am originally from ND. I had never been there until I met up with a gal on the Ohioquilter's list. She had ties with Ohio since she had a son living here, we also quilted, so we had a connection there. Anyway I was destined to meet Jan and did one day when we drove to visit my family since it was on the way so to speak even though it took a different rode home. So that's how I met Jan.

When I enquired about the colander, I told them that I was checking on it for a friend of mine in Mississippi and I said BTW, I have a friend that lives in McVille. The guy was very impressed and amazed that some one in Ohio knew where it was. He let me know the content of the colander, and I wrote back to him and thanked him. I also said, I know McVille is a small town, and you might even know Jan Thompson. He honestly couldn't believe it and he just had to write back to say, "YOU ARE KIDDING! Jan works for me putting up the listings on ebay for the store and this was one of her ads!" He said "go look at the ad and you will find the initials jt." LOL

SO WHAT WERE THE ODDS!?! I had no clue she worked there and had it not been for this other gal from Mississippi, I would have never looked for the colander or at least inquire of it's content since she was specifically looking for aluminum or find the accidental discoveries that unfolded! So my friends, I thank my lucky stars for remarkable things that happen in life. Perhaps this is that theory of six degrees of separation.

Maybe you are also in need of a lucky colander and there are more available for purchase. I am guessing Jan works on commissions, hence the initials. So if you purchase one, tell them Wanda sent you:) Ebay link

Trick or Treat!!!

A lion tamer and two little lions



The nurse and the clown



A young future Logan cheerleader



Trick or Treat on Moore Rd.


Sunday was our neighborhood halloween trick or treat day. It was my favorite holiday when I was a kid! I loved to play dress up and run through the neighborhood at night with flashlights. Those times have changed to become safer for kids and even though it is just for a couple of hours and in the day light, it lets us have a better glimps of their costumes.

Even though those times are gone we can still have the oppertunity to get some FREE candy in a drawing on Oct. 31st. Feast your eyes on a chance to get some treats for all of you artists and crafters. Get some eye candy at a blog giveaway!

Catch Your Fall

Fall is my favorite time of year and is mostly lovely in the Hocking Hills. We usually go to the caves, but I had never been to Clear Creek and it isn't far from us! Not being a native to Ohio, I never really thought about it and asked my husband and he said he's been there many times, but had never taken me! So off we went on our fall adventure and it proved to be most gorgeous! I wanted to catch my fall as I know that it would be gone all too quickly!



I marvel at the beautiful tall trees of red, green, orange, yellows and gold. Having grown up in ND we see so much plains so this is an awesome sight!



In addition to trees, there is such wonder in the rocks formed by glaciers over time.



This is Written Rock which is made from sand stone. I marvel at it's awesome textures!



Some beautiful patterns at each area you view.








Just so much variety in the same rock!



Or you might find the rock in a forest covered with moss. Looks like a green creature!



I love viewing up through the magestic tree tops!




The woods also produce other funky looking creatures! Doesn't this look like a long slug or snake?



Here he is in full view



I am sure there are other creatures that lurk in the forest and only show themselves when they want to. This is a perfect home for the elves and faeries. I think If you look really close, you might even see some eyes peering out! Hmmm..... wonder if we would see some activity here especially on Halloween!