Gonna be a Steampunk Saturday

Happy Happy Saturday peoples!!! It's going to be a beautiful day. I have the windows and back door open and the cool, crisp air is AWESOME. Of course, it won't last long. It's the South and Mother Nature thinks it's suppose to be summertime here all the time...BAHAHAHA!!!

It's going to be a steampunk day here under the old Southern ooaks. Sabrina is all baked and I plan on starting on her eyes today. It's going to take some time adding all the clear layers to them after I get the iris painted so I have to be very, very patient. Stop laughing....I am and can be patient....I.....hope!!!  I worked on her hat yesterday while she was baking and cooling and here's what I have so far. (plus a few of the items that are going to go on the hat too...maybe....perhaps)

I really like how this turned out. I made it the same way I did my Mad Hatter hat a few years ago. Of course, this one is bigger than that one....hehe!! I wish that I had done a How to for ya'll, just in case you might want to make one too. I can TELL ya what I did and post a pic of my pattern....that should help, eh?

You can make so many different variations with these hats. Make them out of foam....out of paper (pretty paper).....cover them in fabric....in fur....the ways are limitless. For the base I used heavy cardstock but you can use an empty cereal box. Well....it should be empty. I have been known to need one and dump the contents in a ziplock bag....oh yes I did!!!  For this particular hat I used the above pattern. The brim measures 4 inches across and the top portion measures 3 inches. The band is 2 1/2 inches on the ends and the more curve you give it the more height you will have in the front of the hat. Just play with it until you get it the way YOU want it. I did add a bit extra around the band and cut out tiny tabs along the top side on the paper (side that will go against the brim) so that I would have something to glue to the brim for support. I did the same thing with the top hat circle too. You can glue or tape it together. If I'm going to be using pretty paper as the outside of the hat then I use glue. For this one though since I covered it in velveteen fabric I taped the hat together to make sure it held and gave it some extra strength. I then glued the fabric on the cardstock and even stitched along the top portion (don't take glue to the edges if you are going to do this...makes it VERY hard to stitch) and then stitched together the brim top portion and the piece for underneath (so my cardstock wouldn't be showing) Not hard at all....just a bit time consuming but it's so so worth it....ri iiight?? For the tulle around the brim I gathered sections and then whip stitched them to the brim. I'm hoping to get it detailed today. I'm planning on making a pair of steampunk goggles to go on the hat top too. I mean a witch can get dust in her eyes from flying on her broom. Safety peoples....safety ^_^

Do you love this time of year? I know I sure do. Halloween is such a FUN time. I love vintage Halloween even more and try to pull it into my decorations. Do you have some little ghouls ummm I mean girls you plan on making special Trick or Treat bags for? I have some cute vintage paperdolls that you could add. I mean what little girl doesn't like paperdolls?

Hope you enjoy these and (looking around and whispering) it's quite alright if YOU cut them out and play with them too. Just sayin....I won't tell a soul. BAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Until next time...........Hugs,
Regi

Christmas Decorations are UP.....Thank goodness!!!!

Whew....finally.....got all my decorations up and they (if I must say so myself) look rather marvelous darlin, simply marvelous..hehe!!

I'm not one to go out and buy new things each year to use in my decorations. Nope....not me. I love all the memories that go with all my well loved and worn items. A good friend even gave us some of her very loved old items to add to ours this year and it made us HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!! (Looking around) I really shouldn't have started watching Duck Dynasty...hehe...can't keep that phrase outa me head now.

I was so afraid that we weren't going to have our big tree this year...I kinda had a meltdown due to the fact that the top was bent so badly that I couldn't straighten it out AND I couldn't find the gosh darn tree stand that went with it. I mean, ya can't put up a 8ft tree without a stand. Well, I guess I could have if I could have talked the Chazman into standing there and holding it up. For some reason he wouldn't even consider it.  The Mister got in from work the day I pulled everything out and fixed the top (it still leans just a bit but that's alright) and he had been using the stand to hold our backyard umbrella up. Go figure!!

Since you're here visiting why not let me show you our 2013 Christmas decorations......well...come on!!!!!

This is what you see when you walk in our front door. Welcome to Regi's B&B. It's not really a B&B but some family and friends refer to it as that because I have it fixed up into a cute lil room for company. I don't always serve breakfast so keep that in mind if planning on visiting. ^_^

Since the B&B was originally a porch, there is another front door to go through and that takes you into our family & dining room. (old house so the two are one big room)

If you want to print a Believe banner just go and visit 

At Second Street. You will LOVE her blog..so many

awesome ideas, recipes and she has the cutest family.

I LOVE using my ooaks (one of a kind sculpts) in my decorating. You can see Red, the painting elf sitting on the left side of the mantel and Daddy's Santa on the right. He is one VERY special ooaks and if this is your first time visiting me here then please click on Daddy's Santa and go read all about why he is so special.

This is the dining room part of the family/dining room. The phone table is all decorated too and it's looking Beary nice, don't ya think? I got to use another of my Santa ooaks and this one I'm probably not going to sale. The Chazman really likes it and wants to keep it. See the pretty small cloth on the table with the Christmas bulbs on it....well...that's a sample piece of upholstery. You can use anything when decorating and SEE....the tree doesn't lean to much either. Ohh just turn your head a bit to the side and ya can't even tell at all. We love our little Christmas village and it's grown about as big as it can unless Momma gets a bigger table. (hint hint)  The Santa is one of the old loved pieces my friend gave us. She knew the Chazman would love him AND he does. Santa sings and dances and you can even hook him up to a cd player and he will sing with it. I will get a video soon so you can see. That is if I don't karate chop his head off. I keep forgetting he's there and when I come from the kitchen back into the room then there he is. He looks like a real person....ok ok...a small person but HEY, I know some short people. (not mentioning any names..hehe)

Most already know that I love to use my vintage images in a frame I have over the sofa during the holidays. That's ANY holiday....from New Years all the way throughout the year to Christmas. The Chazman loves this one...can ya see why? Look closely (click on the photo) now do you see? His name is in "The Book". Well, the good boy book of course!! He thinks I found this image with his name already there. I'm not going to tell him that I photo shopped. (shhhhhh, some things are better just left alone, ri iight?)

 The little bear is holding mistletoe and we all know

what your suppose to do when walking under it.

Aren't I sneaky? I mean everyone goes in the kitchen.

Of course the kitchen gets decorated too....every counter..hehe  I love my collection of Christmas mugs on the shelves. There again...I need more room!!  The wreath is one I made with vintage Santa mugs along with mugs for each of my boys that represent their first Christmases. Sitting on the tall table is another of my Santa ooaks. See..they are good for decorating with. (another hint hint..hehe) I also made some new signs to hang. I used the backs of my vintage tin signs that I have hanging every day. The walls just looked way to nekkid without them being  up. I used more vintage images and even some old Christmas cards and sheet music I had. Like I said...you can use just about anything to decorate with.

 Vintage sheet music image, Santa image, some garland and I added

the words "I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus"

Top sign has scrapbook paper as background

with one of our old Christmas cards and I

printed out the words

HoHoHo.

Second one has green construction paper, vintage

sheet music and old Christmas card.

The Chazman has his room decorated too. Another gift from our friend is his little tree. It's fiber optic and spins and he LOVES it. It has fallen over a few times (poor thing is missing a leg) but we finally found a way to keep it propped up and NOT topple over anymore. Ohhhh the Southern redneck way of doing things..hehe...we used some of his old game cases. HEY...they work!!!

Our decorations may not be elaborate or fancy but they make my child Happy Happy (I will not add the last Happy..hehe) and that's what counts. I kinda like them myself and now I can sit back and enjoy them!!

Tomorrow I'm working on some of my chenille bump ornies for our trees. I only have one left of the original ones but that's alright. I LOVE making them and I will have to stop once I get enough for our trees because I have other projects that need to be started and finished before Christmas day. Like a new wreath made with (drum roll please) a swimming noodle and coffee filters. Yeppers, ya read that right. If any one would be interested in a "How To" just let me know and I will post one for you. After that I have some bracelet holders to make using (another drum roll ppplease) toilet tissue holders, old CD, scrapbook paper and/or fabric pieces. HEHE, ya read that one right too. Again, if anyone would be interested in a "How To" just let me know. 

Until next time.........HUGS,

Regi

Happy Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope that you have many things to be thankful for today....well...not just for today but for each and every day. I have learned over many years that's it's best to always look for the good we have in our lives, the blessings we ARE given each day and not dwell on the things we don't have. Count each of your BLESSING today and give thanks!!!

Happy Happy Thanksgiving from me to YOU!!!

I want to share some of my vintage paperdoll images. HEY...they could come in handy when the little ones at the kiddos table get finished eating before YOU do. It will give them something to entertain themselves with if only long enough for you to eat that piece of pumpkin pie with a little peace and quiet....hehe

Until next time..........HUGS,
Regi

Can ya see me now? (Santa thinks he is hiding..hehe)

Yesterday was a quiet day around the house. I know....I know, for a Saturday that's VERY unusual. The Chazman woke up not feeling well at all so we stayed in. Must have been a small tummy bug because this morning he says he is feeling "FINE". (have to say that in a very heavy Southern drawl and in a baby voice because he still has one)

I always hate when my lil man gets sick but it gave me some quiet time in my studio without the weekend guilt that can go with it sometimes. A few projects actually got worked on...YEAH!! I'm going to make some of the old fashioned chenille bump ornaments and yesterday I was able to cut out ALLLLL the little faces. So many many faces....there were Santa faces, angel faces, snowman faces, a little girl elf face and a sweet vintage couple that I'm going to make "Our First Christmas Together" ornament with.

The little tin is stuffed full of faces. I have been searching and gathering vintage images for awhile now and decided it was time to cut them out. Talk about time consuming...WHEW!! There are some great free sites to find these, like....Hubpages, Vintage Holiday crafts, and my favorite place to hunt for vintage images is The Graphic Fairy. Just remember when finding an image you like and want to use that you read the terms of use and make sure it's alright. Normally it is but just make sure!! ^_^ (I mean, it's the polite thing to do ya'll)

After I finished cutting and cutting and cutting AND CUTTING the faces out, I had time to work on my newest Santa piece. Santa is looking pretty spiffy so far and extremely weird. Yes, I said WEIRD. They always do at this stage.

See I told ya...hehe!!  Santa thought he was being cute and hiding amongst my craft tools but I caught him. It does look creepy though. I mean it looks like his head, hands and feet are just there without a body. YIKES!!

Santa finally came out and decided I could get a pic of him so you could see that he has a strong wire armature. Ohhh, look..he is even doing a dance for you. Walk like an Egyptian (oh-way-oh)  I'm hoping to get his yarn underclothes done today. Fingers crossed. As you can see his hands are completed and I even made him a pretty handsome wedding band.

His face is painted but I still have a few small details to do. Hmmmm, I wonder how long it's been since Mrs. Claus has seen Santa without his beard?

I also was able to paint on the vintage ceramic sleigh yesterday too. I'm not finished with it but it's looking so much better than it did.

 Before

Almost after..hehe

I hope that YOU have a great Sunday. Thank you for stopping by for a visit...come back again and soon!!!

Until next time...........Hugs,

Regi

According to the calendar...it's FRIDAYYYY!!!

This year is going by so fast. I mean, can ya believe it's been two weeks already. Ok ok almost two full weeks but close enough AND it's FRIDAYYY!!! The Chazman is home today...the teachers are in school. (it's a teacher/employee work day..and here I thought they worked Mon-Fri already..hehe) SO with that being said (about the Chazman being home) I had better get to work on this post because I won't have use of the computer for long. (unless he decides to sleep in and that means sleeping til around 10)

I finished the last two of my vintage tags for our January/winter tree. I think they turned out pretty dang good, if I must say so myself. Yes yes I know...I just did. HA!!!

This little sweet guy walking his little doggie out in the cold and not minding it one least little bit. I made another of my beaded snowflakes or "Winter's Teardrops" as I like to call them. Used some of my colored pens to add a bit of color. Little man was to blahhhh being in black and white with those beautiful colorful wings. I just had to add some color to him....just had to I tell ya!!

Here's the last of the four tags and isn't she adorable. Ya best be shakin those noggins "yes yes". ^_^   I have been seeing folks posting old photos of kiddos on horses and that's what gave me the idea for this tag. I love being able to use all of a photo, like the butterfly wings. Little man had the top part of the print and little miss has the bottom. Would never know though, would ya? I used several different vintage images for this one. The pony (so cute) The little girl is one and her hat, coat and hand warmer were another. I added a pretty blue silk ribbon/bow to her collar and added an inspirational saying that I so love " Spirit...the vital principle or animating force within living beings" (I encircled it with some bronze chain) I also added some German glass on the hat and hand warmer. It's hard to see it on the computer but it looks so pretty when the lights shine off of it on the tree.  Speaking of the tree, I guess it's time to show it to ya'll........

The Chazman and I are so enjoying having it still sitting in the corner and winking blinking at us at night. The little bear on the ladder is holding a crystal in his hand and is getting ready to hang it on the tree. I have been using that ladder (which my parents gave me yearszzzzz ago) ever since Chaz has been in this world. He said he wants it in all the decorating we do throughout the year too. So I guess Ted E is going to be a very busy bear climbing up and down that ladder this year. ^_^

Did ya notice in the first tree photo my teapot collection and the Mad Hatter sign I made? Let me show you a closer photo...don't want ya to miss seeing it.

I love making little signs and I will decoupage this one later on so it will last for a longer time. The print is an image of one of the illustrations from the children's book, Alice in Wonderland. Well....ok...I guess ya probably already knew that. DUHHH!! I added the Cheshire cat sitting in the tree, the teacup full of flowers that's Alice's cup, the strawberry shortcake (I mean what's a tea party without sweets, ri iight?) the cute little extra teapot, the little Mad Hatter label and the sign that states " We're all quite made here!! You'll fit right in".  Since I collect teapots and my own original Mad Hatter is sitting with them, I just had to make a sign. I noticed now too in the photo of the tree and the teapots that there is a blank space in between the Mad Hatter sign and my mermaid soap sign. I guess I know one thing I will be doing today....making something to hang there...HAHA!!

Thank you so much for stopping by today to visit with me and I hope that you will do so more often this year. If you see something that I have made and would like some instructions, just ask and I will email you the how to's or even do a post about it. I love to share...sharing is a very good thing!! Also, I have decided that 2013 is going to be a year of giving. I will without announcement except in the post that will let you be "THE ONE" give the number of the comment for that post that will become "THE ONE" to win something that I have made during the year. I think it will be fun and hopefully get more to come and visit with me. I like my visitors and yes...I will stoop to bribery to get them to come. hehe

Until next time...........HUGS,
Regi