And Then It Was November!

Pumpkin Boots for my new niece or nephew!

Howdy Do Bloglandeers,

Today I found myself doing some holiday craft supply and birthday gift shopping, and just ACCOSTED by carols in every shop. Certainly, as I buy the bottle brush mini trees and the tag paper  cones, I am thinking "Holiday", but the music just about freaked me out.
Really? Already? Not even a mix? 
And playing in every store.
So now, I guess it's just all Holiday from now... until January. No wonder people get so stressed out this time of year. I love carols, but I need moderation.

To be fair it, wasn't just the ever so slightly premature jing- jing- jingling that un-nerved me. It also may had something to do with the fact that normally, by now, I am well on my way with my Handmade Holidays: projects picked, lists made, and even a portion of the sewing/creating completed. This November 1st, I don't think I have done item one. I don't even have a plan. I have an inspiration board on Pintrest, but it's whimsical, not practical (which made it much more fun to make... by the way).

I expect lots of blogs are probably all geared up with a full schedule of tutorial goody goodness, adorable pdf printable checklists, and all manner of comfort and joy, but I think I'll just be documenting my strategies and plans as I fully punt my way through the next two months. I need to find awesome fast, fun gifts to make, I need to find time for me and my family to celebrate and socialize and I want to leave stress at the doorstep.

My other goals are that I want to do is get back on the blogwagon AND focus on the holiday at hand...
So, I plan to blog every day in November about something I am grateful for...
(as well as the progress and process of the Handmade Holidaze Unprepared.)

A Full Month of Thanksgiving.

November 1st: 

I am grateful (and excited) that my sister invited me to be there when she has her baby.

I think this is going to be fun.
Anyone want to join me?
It's easy.
We all have so much to be thankful for.

Thankfully yours,

Betty

Thursday Tutorial: The Banner of Thankfulness.

please feel free to click on the pictures to make them Much Bigger.

Here's a little tutorial and downloadable free banner for Day 5 of My Personal Advent.

Why so early? Well because by the time it seems more apropos, I expect that we all will be up to our eyeballs with far more urgent stuff to do.

So I suggest, that if you have kids that craft, maybe you could make this together. And then way ahead of the game you can talk about what You Are Thankful For. And then by the time the big day rolls around and the family and friends are there and there is so much cooking and stuff to do...

you and your kids will have already reflected and that will feel great.

And if you don't have kids, make it by yourself and get done twice as fast!

 Fold the pages of a small (no longer read) paperback book

back and forth in half inch creases, fan style. You'll need 11.

 

Staple in the very center.

Trim the ends like in the picture, both curving in the same way.

 Open the fan and glue the straight side together to make a star shape.

 

 click below:

 Free Thanksgiving Banner Download

Then print and cut out or use a big punch (mine was 2 inches, scalloped).

I used tacky glue to put the letters on the front of the stars

I used a punch to put hole through one of the points of the star.

Then I threaded it all together with a large needle, threaded with old seam binding.

straighten and hang...

Happy Day 5.

I'll be off for the next 3 days I think.

Catch up on Monday!

Thrift Thursday: Random Bits and My First Summer Book

The thrift store is still yielding little treasures.

I found an owl and a stamped aluminum bowl with nice detail. I Love that the owl is standing on some books. I should make him my summer reading program mascot.



I found exciting vintage sequins with excellent patina. About a 1/2 cup for a dollar.



And I found a worn old library copy of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park with vellum covered illustrations. I enjoyed it very much but thought it ended more abruptly than her others.
First book in my summer reading program all done and it's not yet summer.



Next book is vintage 1994 David Sedaris short stories. Yeah! Kind of the other end of the comic book spectrum from Miss Austen.

Well I'm off to pick up a carload of boys from the summer theatre program and to find out if Jacob got his dream role as the non-singing butler in The Sound of Music.

Cross your fingers folks! If they make him stretch and cast him as Rolf... he will be inconsolable.

Oh and a big thanks to Craftzine and to Fairie's Gate for featuring some Betty. It get's harder and harder to stay bitter here in blogland!

It's a little Meme-ish here today

What a lovely week it was for me to get tagged last week.

Ms. Cleaver tagged me for 7 Random things:
so here I go:

My grandma used to chaperon for Tim Burton on Burbank Police Boys Band parade trips.
She said he was "a nice boy, a little strange."

When I was little my mom made almost every one of my dolls herself from the old McCall's patterns. They all had extensive wardrobes as well.

I am really afraid of snakes. I won't even go into the reptile section of a pet store.

I can not knit or crochet. Not at all. Never even tried it. Maybe someday... but really, I can't get a yarn stash or we'll have to move.

My signature scent used to be Coco by Chanel (when I was young and believed what I read in the magazines). Now it is Aveda Rosemary shampoo and Arm and Hammer Biodegradable laundry detergent in Mountain Rain scent.

I went to a two room school house during elementary school.

I watch the bonus features on dvds. Almost without exception. Even for bad movies.
I also like the director's commentary. I know... weird!!!!

I have a really great Birthday present I need to blog about from this great lady. But time is Not On My Side so far this November...( in a fun, hurry-scurry kind of way.)


Then To Top it off, Turkey Feathers tagged me for the Kreativ Blogger Award!
Thanks so much...
I am working out my list and will post it next week.

I also have been wanting to say thanks to CraftMag, Dabbled, Instructables, One Pretty Thing, Crafty Crow and Whip Up for the Linky love...
I can't even list everyone who linked and built and tried the Halloween stuff.. but I have been cruising around and have been loving all the cools stuff I'm seeing.
You guys are the BEST.

Kitchen Pictures

Take a look at my new old play kitchen.

you know the drill, click on the picture to enlarge

One would wonder why a grown woman, who now has her own real life size kitchen to drudge around cooking and cleaning in, would possibly want another, smaller kitchen.



It isn't because I can clean this kitchen up and 5 minutes later it isn't trashed by all the various doll residents.

She's got Betty Davis Eyes.

Or because it makes my fridge and dishwasher seem positively up to the minute

The little burner colors change to red when you flip the switches

Well, I guess I needed a place to keep all my Re-Ment.

And I now have the perfect garment to wear when I am playing with toys!

I got this wonderful Apron from Dorie at Tumbling Blocks. Thanks Dorie! I Love it, even if Cooper does think I am a big Old Ham.

Stay Tuned for the Gourd Doll House Tutorial...
I have been working on it all week!

Gourd Getting and Thanks on Thursday!

Just a Big Thanks to my blog friend Cassi for featuring my Gourd house on The Crafty Crow !
And to all the nice new folks stopping by from there.

Just wanted to post a link on where to get those great gourds:
Wellburn Gourd Farm sells them in big bunches,
Amish Gourds are more expensive but you can buy one at a time.
This one is 5 inches across but only the tiny peg ladies fit inside.

A bigger Kettle Gourd could house multiple sized dolls, and that would be sooo sweet.

If you like these little play sets but don't feel crafty, I can make you a doll house to order. Just email me.
Or if you'd like to see a step by step tutorial, leave a comment.. I will order more gourds and put one together as quick as I can!

Thanks everyone. Lately I can use all the encouragement I can get!

Thrift Thursday: The Frame Game

Well, I am beginning to see how it works with me.
If One Is Good, Then 3 Must Be Better.

frame tack board covered with upholstery fabric
and filled with acetate pages from a anatomy book in bulldog clips

Can't pass up a nice frame anymore. I fill them with pinboards, so I can have a great casually ever-changing art display. Frames without glass come cheap, Homosote board (noise dampening fiber board) bigger than your car is 10.00 and batting and fabric tend to be spilling out of the craft cave.

board covered with vintage pillowcase, usually filled with the pattern I am sewing up.

It takes about 25 minutes and a box knife, straight edge and a staple gun to make these.

You've seen this... but I did thrift up some new brooches since it's last appearance.
(Oooh.. these are a bit blurry. soorrry.)

Grab those frames! Make yourself a gallery of delights. Just buy every little print you see on etsy and change them out weekly.

I'd get

This One,

This One,

and This One ...

Just for starters.



And A Huge Hurray and Thanks to GeekCraft who featured the robot doll I made for my nephew, way back when, and to Craftzine who picked it up...
super-groovy. I'm all a twitter!

Oh- PS:
Hey... Anybody else going to the Maker Faire this Weekend?
I never miss it. My kid would kill me.
Email me if you wanna meet up.
I'm going Saturday for sure and we'll see what Sunday brings.

Tutorial Tuesday: Tea Cart Yourself Over Here

This couple is Red Hot in their casual LeisureWear.
Is that a romper she's wearing?
Fashion Genius, the romper.
Not very flattering and impossible to pee.
I'll probably make one, one day.
Just 'cause.

This is another fun project from
Mechanix Illustrated How To Encyclopedia, 1961.

( just click on the photos to enlarge to legible!)

But seriously, this cart would be so cool if I had a little craft studio. So handy.
I'd paint it a glossy sky blue and
put all my cream colored thrifted planters
on there with craft supplies in them.
I just love stuff on casters, don't you?
Makes your whole house a little more like an amusement park.

Speaking of 'Like an Amusement Park'...
My mail box over flowed last week with lovely surprises.



I got a music swap package from charming Caitlin.
She spoiled me with great music,
and also a sweet little hankie,
and some cool cards wrapped in tons of everyone's favorite twine.
I put one in the mail back on Monday... sorry for the delay, partner!




And from my friend Lindy: Another vintage Sewing Manual!!!
Singer! 192? Super Cute! and she also made me a great card.
Lindy spoils me and helps me spread sewing Joy across the universe. She is the one who found Sally Stitch for us all.

If ya'll want another look at my loot... I will be posting more pics on Flicker in a bit here.

Design for Mankind...and I'm in the E-zine!!

Well, Isn't this just about the coolest!?! My head is huge!




My little old bedroom is in a design inspiration e-zine with some Really Cool People... and it was all thanks to the lovely, super sweet, extra gracious Erin at Design for Mankind.I love her blog and she has such a great online "prescence". I love people who you get all delusional that you "really know them" after just a post and/or photo or two. Don't you?

And a special shout out to Shannon for making the fabric, that fills the frame , that shines in the mirror (that is pictured in the e-zine) that hangs on the wall at my house.

and here is yesterday's Made it Myself picture... Violet's Birthday Outfit!!



I can't wait for her to model it. Loud and proud, like summer playclothes ought to be!



and a special Thanks to Lindy for sending Milo and I lovely goodies!!
Milo is enjoying his ball...


( no books..sorry. if only I knew what to write about....)

I Have a Posse!!

The Posse after a couple Margaritas

Well, all you, self depreciating "not cool enough for Betty" folks... You are all my official BBI- BFF Posse, (including Michelle, and if she wants to bring Heather Ross over for Margaritas.. I say, "come on down". She does seem so very cool.) I was so totally amused and cheered by your comments and all your links and near links to celebrity.

Which Brings me to "The You Make my Day Award" which I so was pleased to receive from
Drewzel. Man, she is a talented thrifter and crafter and glorious in her wealth of good embroidery skills. (Dear god... she has like 3 blogs and I can't keep up with one.) It really did make my day. These fantastic Australian Ladies... They all blow my mind.
( and I was tagged by Futuregirl too... but by now I expect the whole world knows that the respect there is super mutual. We got a thing goin' on.)

Yesterday, these were the people that made my day:

Alice and Stef and Angelina feel like craft sisters to me.

Sonya is a partner in crime, plus she taught me to needlefelt.

Amber has her own fabric store and holds an incriminating picture (or two) of me.

Maddie has been a fantastically funny new friend. And she has a cat like mine and she sleeps with the toy I sent him. Devoted!

Mary- Laure takes gorgeous photos and saves her pastry boxes.
(and I swear it is like a life goal to have a friend who lives in Paris and is a dancer.. and she is as sweet as can be. because she eats pastry. even though she's a dancer.)

Ambika makes me want to try harder to pay attention to my outfits.

Susan make me want to take a photography class and redecorate. Plus, I have her earrings on right now.

Wende makes me want to be a better mom.

Amy has a quality of elegance that is simple and unpretentious.

Dorie reminds me that it is quality that counts and detail matters.

Pam has a way with color and people, she is charm itself.

Moonstitches shows art in the everyday. Composed photos that reinvent their subjects. And crafty too.

Minnie is a Brand New Friend . Coooool! Relatively local and a spats pattern? She's in.

Catherine is a Treasure Hunter Extrodinaire and designs good handbag.

You can forward the award, if you are into it. I found it hard until yesterday.. and then suddenly it was easy.

Oh and BFF dream candidate, Bre Pettis?
He * hearted* my Etsy Shop. I am in Craft Geek Heaven.

I am going to make a video podcast to celebrate this momentous occasion.