I've Been tagged

Deb from http://atthecottage.blogspot.com tagged me. Not sure how this works, I have only been blogging since September, but I will give it my best shot. Thanks Deb.

Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog (copy and paste 1-6)
3. Write 6 random things about yourself.
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

So here are my 10 random things:

1. The chair I am sitting in, in my profile picture, is huge. It is located outside a restaurant,
in Mont Tremblent , Quebec, Canada. This is quite a tourist area and is very popular for skiers.
Just had to get a photo of myself, in this chair. I would love to build one someday. It would be quite the conversation piece at the cottage.

2. I am 5 ft. 10 1/2" tall.

3. My daughter was married this past May. I spent most of last winter making bridesmaid dresses, invitations, centerpieces and everything else you need for a wedding. I will have to post some pics after christmas with some great ideas for weddings.

4. I come from a family of 7 children. My mom had 5 boys in a row and 5 years after the last boy,
I was born. My sister followed 3 years later.

5. When I was 19 I had the opportunity to live in Amsterdam, Holland. I was there for 3 months.

6. There are two places in the world that I dream of visiting , one is Paris France, and the second
is the vineyards and beautiful countryside of Italy.

Now I am tagging some favorite bloggers:

Sharon http://ameliarosecottage.blogspot.com
Melissa http://heartandhome.blogspot.com
Blossom http://interiorrooms.blogspot.com
Brenda http://countryromancefromtheheart
Carmen http://thriftycottage.blogspot.com
Laurie http://bargainhunting

at the cottage: I've Been Tagged!!

at the cottage: I've Been Tagged!!

Great Christmas Gifts to Make

Here is a great idea to make as christmas gifts. These pillows were made from placemats. They can be used every year and look very festive. I used a cotton fabric on the back. You just sew rights sides and leave an opening about 4 " in the seam, turn right side out and stuff with polyester fiber fill, then sew the open by hand.

Toy Soldier

This toy soldier is made from clay flower pots.
He still needs all his buttons and trims, but I will show him again when he is completed. The pots I used are just regular clay pots, about 5 inches in diameter. The pots have holes in the bottom, so you can use a threaded rod, the type used for making lamps, to attach the pots together with a nut on either end. That way they are easy to take apart and store. Stay tuned, to see him finished.

Decorating for the Holidays

Decorating Outside For Christmas

All the decorating outside is finally done.
We just need some snow now, and I think we are getting that tonite.

Christmas Window Boxes

Today I changed my window boxes and added greenery for Christmas. I used spruce and cedar and added mini lights. It was very cold outside.

Window Boxes

Found these planter boxes at a garden center. It was an "end of season sale" and instead of paying $40.00 each, I got them for $10.00 each. Quite a sale! They were a bit rusty from being outdoors, so I spray painted them with a rust proof paint. Good as new. They looked great with my fall mums.

Poinsettia Arrangement

I just finishes this arrangement for my cabinet.
It is an old metal sleigh, about 7 inches high and I put oasis in it, and added silk poinsettias, pine cones and velvet ribbon.

Santa' sleigh and reindeer

,
I made these reindeer from a half inch sheet of plywood and
using a pattern, I traced them out and cut the plywood using a jig saw.
They are easy to take apart and store too. I found the wicker sleigh a few years back at an auction that was taking place for an old theater company and this was one of their props. I was really lucky to get it for $10.00.It was red so I spray painted it white. I am a big fan of spray paint!!
You can make anything old look new again, with a can of paint.

Santa

The directions to make this Santa are found below.

Christmas is coming!

Here is a Santa that has been sewn.
This one is made along the same lines as making a quilt.
The santa fabric is purchased by the meter and sewn inside out with quilt batting in between. Leave an opening to turn right side out.
Then by sewing machine, outline around beard, cuffs, cheeks and hat etc. to make it look 3 dimentional. I added the real snow shoes and it hangs on the front door.

A view of the river and the animals who live there

Fall Closing

Don't forget these tips when closing the cottage:
1. Pull the hose out of the water, so it won't crack and freeze.
2. Put anti-freeze in all the pipes and in the toilet after they have been drained,
so they don't freeze.
3. Try to put blankets, and towels etc. into large tupperware containers, so little critters,
that have moved in for the winter, don't eat them.
4. Clean your fridge and stove and be sure to leave the fridge door opened, so it is not
sealed shut tight, or it will get mold inside and stink, not pretty!
5. Say goodbye to the cottage until spring.......

Halloween is coming!

Here is a witch you can create for your front door.
First you need a straw broom, and black paper ribbon cut in strips for the dress.
Cut a round circle about 2" and glue a paper cone of the black ribbon, about 2" on top of the circle.
This forms the hat. Use a 2" styrofoam ball wrapped with cream colored paper ribbon for the face.
Wire the head onto the broom and glue the hat on top.Add a band of orange ribbon around the hat.
Take your strips of black paper ribbon and glue them just under the head, they should be about 1 and a half inches wide and about 4-5" long. For the arms, take a heavy gage wire and wrap it with the black paper ribbon, but not too tightly, puff it out a bit to form the sleeves of the dress. Wire this to the broom. For the hands, use small sraps of cream paper and wrap the ends of the wire. Use moss for the hair and decorate the face as us wish. Glue a few artificial leaves to the bottom of the dress and add orange and black 1/4" ribbon to the handle of the broom and around neck.
Its ready to hang! (Note that the paper ribbon comes in tight strips and has to be unrolled first).