Oh, dear, I completely forgot to make a post last night! I created a new tag and took photos, then got distracted and forgot about posting until I’d shut the computer down. I intended to turn it back on to make the post, forgot again. Oh, well, here I am now.

Today I had a zoom call with a couple of my sisters and was saying how challenging it’s been recently, not feeling like making anything new even when I have plenty of time and daylight. I woke up from a dream about making myself some mittens and got out the sleeves I’d cut off a felted wool sweater to transform them into mittens. Unfortunately, the fabric had worn through at the elbows on the sweater, so the mittens would not have been thick enough. So I read my book for a while.

During the zoom call, one sister encouraged me to remember that this may just be a fallow time, and allow it to be OK that I’m not creating something new every day. Then I showed my sister some button doll pins I’d made ages ago, and suddenly got inspired to make another one! So here is my first Bottlecap Babe, a lovely pin doll that I’ve named Cara. I messed up the lines a bit when drawing her mouth, so her hair is arranged to minimize the errors. EnJoy!

Bottlecap Babe “Cara”

Today I did some mending! I had to open and hem the under-arm seams on a blouse so I could wear it, and then I mended a favorite skirt that had tears near the waistband.

I wanted to hold the skirt closer to my camera, but every time I tried that, the stupid computer decided that it should show yellow light, not at all what I wanted! Grrr. Anyhow, here is the mended skirt. EnJoy!

Rose on Skirt

Today I watched the first video in a series on fatique and increased energy. Right away I learned that I must go outdoors into sunlight first thing in the morning, and get some of those blue-light blocker glasses to wear when I’m online. I’m looking forward to learning more!

I don’t know what the mechanics did to my car; it worked fine when I picked it up on Monday, but today there was a horrible noise as I backed out of my garage and I could barely steer. Looks like another oil leak, too! ARGGGGH! Might be time for a newer car, though I do hope this one can be fixed and will last a couple more years at least.

Here are two pretties I made for holding pins and needles; the bases are bottle caps and the tops are made from felt, stuffed and embroidered. EnJoy!

Two Bottlecap Pincushions

I’m more than a third of the way through this year-long challenge, wow! Another very hot day today and I did nothing but read and watch a couple of videos on YouTube. Oh, I did book a call with prospective clients for the Debt Shredder for Saturday morning. Good.

I could not muster the energy or inspiration to make anything new today, either. However, I won another digital paper collection during my friend Sandi Nagel’s Christmas in July video hop, so I’ll have to make something with those in the next few days. Stay tuned!

Meanwhile, here is a beautiful bride doll that I made and sold to my mother many years ago. I was blessed to get the doll back after my mother passed away. I used a pattern for the doll, and designed and made her shoes from kid gloves worn by my maternal grandmother. The doll’s face is embroidered and highlighted with colored pencil. EnJoy!

Bride Doll

What a great day! I got up super early (for me) to join a meet and greet zoom call for one of my business prospects–and he decided during the call to become an Unfranchise Owner and registered on the spot! Woo-hoo! Now I have three partners and am ready to build the business Fast! I spent a lot more time on my wellness business, and took some time to rest and read, as well.

This evening I finally finished another decoupage project I started a couple of days ago, using sections of another napkin that I was gifted. These are two envelope hinged together, with the flap of the second one providing both hinge and pocket on the back. I added a few embellishments and a card in each pocket and called it done. A covered paperclip holds it closed. EnJoy!

Rosario Envelope Pockets

Rosario Envelope Pockets 2

Rosario Envelope Pockets 3

Today I took my car to get a new power steering pump; no more oil leakage! Yay! I spent the waiting time at my local Ben Franklin craft store and then at Grocery Outlet, so that helped keep my cool. It was 100º in Grass Valley! Ugh.

I did a bunch more errands, had an early dinner and got on my Artists of Toastmasters zoom meeting. Then I made a few phone calls, so did not have time to finish the project I started.

So here is a tray holding a collection of matchbook-style note pads that I made some time ago. EnJoy!

Tray of tiny note pads

I finally finished this little project I started a couple of days ago! When I received the paper napkins from a friend, I began experimenting and created a few different items.

This one is a soft pouch made from the piece of thin foam that was wrapped around a bottle of herbal tincture that came in the mail. For the bee on the front, I used thinned down PVA glue to adhere the section of napkin, with more glue on top. I adhered segments from a different napkin to the flap closure with ModPodge. I discovered that I could modify the colors by dipping some markers into water and applying that to the napkins (after the glue dried); I spread the color around with a Q-tip. I enhanced the bee wings on the front by outlining with a grey marker, and added some light purple and blue-green to the flowers and leaves on the outer side of the flap. Quite an interesting process!

I glued the edges of the pouch together, held in place with clothespins for clamps. That left marks in the foam, so I decided to stitch over the edges with yellow ribbon. I also patched a tear in the front of the pouch by gluing a piece of a tea bag over the tear on the inside. A butterfly sticker, more ribbons and pearls complete the embellishments. Now to dream up something to put inside. EnJoy!

Bee Kind Pouch

Bee Kind Pouch 2

Bee Kind Pouch 3

Bee Kind Pouch 4

I received some beautiful paper napkins from a friend in Canada, and have been playing with them in my art. Did you know that you can peel apart layers of a fancy paper napkin? and use just the patterned top for your art. I took a piece of plain lavender cardstock, folded it into a card, and applied a segement from a floral napkin to the front, using thinned PVA glue to adhere. Then I coated the napkin with another layer of glue, for decoupage.  I’ll share other projects as I finish them. EnJoy!

Lavender Flowers Card

My day began with a phone call from one of the team leaders at Rising Worldwide, who was checking in to see if I need support for my Rising business, and to let me know that I have a commission check coming. What a lovely surprise! Check out my Rising shop here:

I got in a walk today, glad to be moving my body and enjoying nature. Todays’s offering: two more tags that I downloaded from Charlene of the Grand Central Crafting group. Thanks, Charlene. EnJoy!

Red Bird Tag

Toile Tag

I finally got my massage today! My therapist had to change the time a couple of times, as he had some urgent business come up, so my appointment ended up for evening instead of afternoon. I feel much more relaxed now! Just finished baking my monthly batch of healthy cookies, because this was the coolest day this week!

I made the cover of this sweet little notebook from part of a tea box, and used more digital download papers from Charlene of Grand Central Crafting group. EnJoy!

Birds and Flowers Notebook

Birds and Flowers Notebook 2

Birds and Flowers Notebook 3

Birds and Flowers Notebook 4