IN LOVE WITH AN ANGEL!

A quick note on yesterday's post.
I apologize for the errors in my poem - auto correct is so frustrating, and it's really hard to catch things when your emotions are swept away with your words to the point you can't see clearly through your very own tears.

But everything is corrected now, including the totally inaccurate description of Batman as the Black Knight.  He is in fact the Dark Knight - and if anyone should know this, it should be the Mother of a son who has loved everything to do with Batman all his life.  I am so proud that I actually caught that mistake all on my own, before Jonathan did.  He would have never let me live it down, for sure!



Back to today's post...

I had set this week aside to complete items for my sale that I have started and not quite finished.

For instance, when I make mug rugs, I cut out and applique many at at time, that way I am not always having to change settings on my sewing machine, or switch my iron ( I have one that is very gucked up that I use for applique).

So I end up with 30 mug rugs, that are really not yet mug rugs, they are the top half of the mug rug.  I still have to cut backs and batting, sew them together and then quilt them.

Monday I sewed all the backs and put the batting in all the mug rugs I have been designing, and all that is left to do is to quilt them.  I had intended on doing that on Tuesday, and getting them out of my way.
But in the morning I didn't feel like mug rugs, so instead I worked on a very large angel - my denim angel.  I started her over a month ago, making her body, legs and arms and I cut out her wings.

After I gathered up all her pieces I got an idea... Because she is made almost entirely of denim, I decided to make a lace cover for the front of her wings, so I crazy quilted scraps of laces and trims until I had pieces large enough to cover the denim.  Her wings turned out better than I imagined.  I am so happy with them.

I put her legs and arms on her body and started to dress her.  Her body forms her shirt, so I didn't have to sew a dress, just a piece for her skirt.  I added some more lace to her body, and around her waist. and made a denim flower for her waist.

She needed hair - and I wanted long hair that I could braid.  I remember watching my mother make doll wigs for my cloth dolls when I was small, so I thought - why not try it and see if it works.

I had a ball of reddish mohair, so I cut many long lengths and sewed them together down the middle with the sewing machine, it was so easy I did two sections so she could have lovely thick hair.  I glued her wig onto her head and then braided it - it too, turned out better than I imagined!

Her wings went on next, some accessories, like a tiny little vintage butterfly barrette on one of her pigtails, a little braid around her wrists, some laces for her boots, and she was almost done.

All that is left is to give her a face.  Because a face can either make or break a cloth doll, I am leaving that until I am in the mood to paint...

I am going to sell her - but she's not going cheap.  This is a one of a kind angel.  I am in fact rather in love with her myself.  She is an item I would love to give as a special gift to someone I love, and I might change my mind and do that in the end.

Here is she - still without expression on her face - but really cute in every other way.

HEROES

Yesterday was a very special little boy's 11th birthday.  He started his day in bed vomiting and with a severe headache, much like he starts every day.  Without being told, I know his Mom gave him some Gravol to ease the nausea, and probably some pain medication as well.  He ended up sleeping until the mid afternoon, when he woke up asking for his Birthday supper and his cake.

His mother spent her day being angry and upset, having to see her little boy spend a second birthday in such condition, knowing that perhaps he may spend yet a couple more this way as well.

This little boy, is our beloved Thomas, who is now in his 14th month fighting childhood leukemia.  He's had a cruel and heartbreaking journey so far, and  the longer he travels this road, the harder it seems to become for him and his family.

He should have been at school, he should have been playing soccer at recess with his friends, he should have been able to come home from school with rosy cheeks from a day of suppressed excitement to an evening of birthday celebrations with his family.

Instead he got frequent worried kisses to his brow from his family throughout the day as he slept off his medications.

It's heartbreaking for us who watch this family travel this journey together, this family who are our family, our loved ones, our kin.  It's heartbreaking, and it's frustrating because we want to do something to help - but there is nothing we can do, but pray, and watch and listen, and be there for our loved ones.

I am frustrated because I live so far away - too far to be able to offer my care, to give my niece a day off, to put my own kiss on Thomas' precious brow.

As I worked in my studio yesterday, my thoughts were constantly on this family, on Thomas.  I didn't even realize that I had begin to put together thoughts and words in my head until I went to bed and those thoughts and words fell in line and made perfect sense.

So Thomas, I am a day late, but this is for you, my sweet sweet HERO.

Auntie loves you so very much... I hope today is a better day for you....

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

HEROES

A poem for Thomas

I don’t believe in Heroes,

I once heard someone say:

They’re fake, they’re fads, myths and more,

They don’t exist today.

Maybe they thought of caped crusaders.

Whose powers have no end.

Face mask wearing, flying wonders,

Shooting webs from their arms like pens.

My Heroes capes are blankets,

And their face masks help them breathe,

Their veins shoot plastic tubing,

Filled with drugs they really need.

Some of my Heroes have no hair,

And some of them can’t walk.

Some of them are so very sick,

They can barely even talk.

My Heroes are just children,

Fighting evil with all their might.

Their courage and strength far outweigh

Some fictional, magic, Dark Knight.

My Hero is a boy named Thomas.

Who just turned 11 today.

He’s the one I believe in,

He’s for which I pray.

Heroes really do exist,

You see that one was wrong,

They’re out there fighting every day,

And they are millions strong.

Dale Graumann

2017

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IM UNBALANCED!

How did it get to be Tuesday of next week already?  I swear the days fly by so quickly for me, and here I was under the impression that once fall came, I could slow down.

The balance act is on - and guess what?  I am totally unbalanced - but you already knew that, didn't you?

The balance I can't quite seem to manage is work outside, or work inside.  The weather has helped in my decision making somewhat, in that we have had some rainy days, which I am totally thankful for.  Things are greening up so nicely now, and Gary has even had to get the lawn tractor out to mow the grass - something he has not done since the beginning of August.

To tell the truth, I feel some pressure from both side of this balancing act.  Outside work waits - things that have to get done before winter.  Inside work waits - things that have to get made before November 5th - and it just could be that winter arrives around that time as well.  How do I choose?

Mostly I don't, and that seems to be the problem.  I start the day off inside, then wander outside, then wander back inside.  Somehow things are getting done, but I really do feel so unbalanced!

Maybe I am being too hard on myself.  I do know that this is one of the reasons I stopped doing craft sales when I was working full time.  I pushed myself and forced myself to the point that my efforts no longer gave me any pleasure at all.

These days should be different - and they are.  I don't have to push myself, I am more than willing to work inside or outside and I am getting much pleasure out of my work - but I have totally forgotten how to pace myself.

Well - look at that!  I've figured it out!  My problem is not balancing - it's pacing!  Ha!  Who Knew!

I'm so glad I sat down to write this post today.  I've solved one of my own dilemmas.

I'm going to get to work now.

Thanks for dropping by...

Now.... where was I?

A GREAT WAY TO SPEND A DAY!

Yesterday was a long day.  Gary had to attend a seminar in Brandon, 90 minutes away from our home, so we were up early (before 7) and on the road at 8 am.  After 2 years of retirement we have well adjusted to the concept of not rising before 8am.  In spring when the sun is up early it is easy to get up earlier than 8, but at this time of the year, when the mornings are darker, and cooler, our bodies seem to say - sleep on...

So on the highway we went at 8 am.  It was a cool, cloudy morning, the sun was trying to break up the clouds, and it seemed like no one else was venturing out so early, as for once we pretty much had the highway to ourselves.  By the time we were half way to Brandon, the sun was shining brightly.  We got to Brandon in good time, found the Cathedral where Gary's seminar was being held, and settled in.

After the seminar we hit the stores.  I find it quite amusing, how we have changed in two years.  When you live in a large city, you so take for granted having every convenience at your beck and call.  Rural life, is a bit different.  When I make a shopping list now, it looks something like this -

window blinds - small kitchen window - 22.5 w
New jeans
Tarp - for covering the AC
Those 7W chandelier bulbs ( get lots )
Stock up on hand soap, shampoo, deodorant
New stove

In actual fact - we did get everything on this list - and more.

Did you catch that last item?  Can I shout... YEAH?  You bet I can!   I am so happy to be seeing the end of the ancient stove we acquired with the purchase of this home.  It's been a burr in my butt since we moved here.  It's replacement will arrive early in October - right in time for Thanksgiving dinner preparations!  I can't wait!

We stopped in Neepawa for supper on the way home, and arrived home tired but very satisfied with a day well spent - in every sense of the word.

And this morning - we gladly returned to sleeping in until 8 am.

ANGEL TUTORIAL

Here is the Tutorial I  promised on the little jean angel.  I hope you get the chance to try making her, if you have the supplies.  If my instructions are not clear, just send me a comment and I will try to clarify for you.  If you do make one, please show us what you have done in the comment section of this thread.

So first of all you will need some supplies.  You will need a porcelain head and hand set.  If you can't find hands, that is okay - but you do need a head.  Try dollar stores, look in the Christmas section when it is up, and also check out the craft area of the store.  Other sources are thrift stores, garage sales, church rummage sales... you just never know where you will stumble upon a broken down angel.

Next you need some used jeans.   From the used jeans you need the following pieces.

Jean Material
Skirt -  one 7" x 11"
Wings  - two 6"x4"
Sleeves - two 2"x4"
Bodice - one 3.5" x 4.5"

One piece of lace or tulle material cut approx 6"x4"  for the front of the wings.  Don't buy lace - you can be creative by cutting up an old doily, or lace curtain - thrift stores have lots of things with this type of trim.

One wing cut from a light cardboard, such as a cereal box.  You can draw own on a piece of paper first. Fold a piece of paper in half and draw one wing - when you cut it out you will have the full wing.

2 pieces of chenille pipe cleaners cut 3.5"

assortment of trims and laces if you wish to embellish your angel more.

Glue gun and glue sticks

needle and thread.

Instructions:

Cut all pieces of jean material using above measurements.

To make the WINGS.

Take one piece of the denim wing material provided and glue the cardboard wing to the WRONG SIDE of the fabric, making sure to secure the outer edges well.  Cut the fabric around to the shape of the cardboard.

Flip the wing over so the fabric side faces the table, and now glue the second wing fabric to the cardboard facing you, WRONG SIDE DOWN.  Cut this fabric to the correct shape following the shape of the cardboard and fabric already cut.

Repeat the same process for one side of the wing using the lace or tulle fabric. 

After you have shaped the wings by cutting the fabric to match the others, take your glue gun and just make sure all the outer edges of both side of the wings are firmly attached.

If you want to attach feathers, or any embellishments, you can do it now.

Set wings aside.

SKIRT

Sew or glue the short edges of the skirt material together… WRONG SIDES FACING.

Turn the material right side facing and with a needle and thread gather the material along the top of the skirt, pull tightly to close and secure.

Making sure your seam will be at the back of the angel, glue the skirt into the dolls head.

ARMS

Glue a chenille arm to each hand.  To make the sleeve, position the arm on the wrong side of the arm material.  Glue material to wrist of the hand and along the pipe cleaner, then wrap and roll the material around the arm and wrist until you have a sleeve.  Cut off any excess material, and glue down any areas that you missed.

Glue completed arms to the outside of the doll head at the shoulder level.  Remember to glue the appropriate hand to the right side of the body.

BODICE

Here’s where you get to be creative! You can cover as little or as much of the breastplate attached to the head as you wish!  Make sure you cover the arms where you have glued them to the body, and make sure the bodice covers the top of the skirt. 

You can make a cape top, or fit the material to the breastplate  - be creative, and if you run out of material, you can always use laces or trims to cover the areas you missed.

Add any trims to bodice, dress or sleeves now.

FINISHING

Position arms as you wish, and glue hands together.

Attach wings securely with glue to the back of the angel, positioning the head between each wing.  I ran a thick bead of glue down the middle of the wing, and then also attached each wing to wherever it touched the back to the angel.

Attach a ribbon for a hanger to the back of the head of the angel.

YOUR ANGEL IS DONE!

Copyright ã Dale Graumann

2017

I am working on those kits, I will let you know where and when they will be for sale soon.

I HAVE BEEN BUSY!

It's been a busy few days here in Dale's house.  Friday was a cool cloudy day, it threatened rain  so I decided to spend the day up in the studio.  I haven't worked on many mug rugs for my November sale, even though I plan to have a bunch done to sell, so I appliqued all the teacher ones I had cut out.  I got tired of those so I appliqued a barn one that I had designed a while back, and then I decided to design a new one.

Check out my grain elevator!

I was so happy with the way it turned out -so  I cut out a few more

And just to be silly I thought I would jazz a couple of them up a bit for the lady farmers!




These last 2 pictures are just cut - not yet sewn or appliqued.

Saturday it was still cool and cloudy, and still no rain, so I headed outside to pull my carrots, and till my vegetable garden.  Happy to say the garden is done for the season.  I might till it one more time before the snow flies, but if I don't get around to it - that's okay too.  When I came in the house, I spent the rest of the day freezing carrots, and I also finished freezing the last of my tomatoes - so the putting away of all my vegetable harvest is also over for another year.

It started raining around suppertime and continued all evening and night - so we finally got a bit of much needed moisture.

Yesterday, I was planning to applique the mug rugs I had cut out on Friday, but instead I decided to try something totally new.

On the September long weekend, my friend Louise and I went to a spectacular garage sale in Alonsa.  The couple who had the sale, spend the entire year collecting things from all over the province, and then once a year on the Labor Day long weekend, they hold a huge sale of things they had collected.

It was the best garage sale I had ever been to, and if I don't forget, I surely plan to go to next years sale with much more money in my pocket.

Louise bought a huge box of tassel's and fringe.  Gorgeous, high end stuff.  When we got home, I asked if I could have a couple of tassels to make some tassel dolls.  I had never made them before, but I had one my Aunt Margaret made for me years ago, and I had seen many over the years.  Louise kindly shared some of her loot - so here was my opportunity to try my hand at something totally new.

This is the large tassel I started with... isn't it gorgeous?

So I got my supplies and got busy...

My first one 

Looking at the picture now, I think I will nip that bodice in a bit more.

My second one

I love how she turned out, amazing what fun one can have with a tassel and bits of ribbons and lace.  How's that for a hat without a pattern.

I have 2 more of the large tassels, and a few smaller ones, so I will keep at them between other projects...

I still have a lot to complete before I am ready for my sale, but if I keep having as much productivity as I did this weekend - I just might make it.

THE SEASON OF COMPLETION!

They are promising us several days of rain, and I am hoping this time the wind doesn't push it elsewhere.

We are very dry here.  Yesterday I walked around the yard and there are parts of my lawn that actually crackle and crunch under your feet when you walk on it - just like walking on a field of straw and stubble.

It's going to take a lot of rain to hydrate that grass and all the other vegetation out there as well.

I still have carrots in the garden, but I can't get them out of the ground - it's like they are in cement, and we have very sandy soil here.  I have potatoes that I didn't plant that have to be dug up and one renegade Zucchini plant that decided it had better show itself, after me waiting almost 4 months for it to appear.

It's time to get the yard ready for bed.  We have a big plum tree to trim, perennials to cut back, lawn ornaments to collect and stash away in the shed.  I'd like to edge all the gardens one more time before the snow flies.

That's what I love about fall  - the slowing down, the cutting back, the putting away, the cleaning up.  The end of the growth and work cycle of mother nature, and the introduction of the rest and deep sleep cycle.  I really don't know how I would function without this wonderful season.  It's the season of completion.

I would be very happy if the heat stayed away as well.  Don't you just love those cool mornings and evenings, and nights when leaving your window open a crack means you have to pull another blanket up over your shoulders?  These are the days when socks go back on your feet and sweaters come out of the closet.

These are the days of earlier sunsets, and early morning calls of wild geese heading for warmer shores.  These are the days for saying so long to precious feathered friends who have lived in our trees and bushes and grazed at our feeders - oh how we will miss their beautiful songs.

These are the days when the long dormant knitting needles are moved to a basket on the floor beside our favourite chair, and the days when our favourite chair catches us in an afternoon nap that lasts longer than 10 minutes.

Fall - The season Of Completion - How wonderful it is, after all!