Seize the Cure Bra

I have also been working on making this bra for the Artful Bra contest. 

My work department wanted to create an entry and we decided to make it ours!

I work in the Pediatric Neurology Department, so we are always doing EEGs.  

This bra is covered completely in EEG tracings, and sports the Epilepsy Awareness Ribbon pin on the flower in the front... 

It sure wasn't the easiest thing I have ever crafted, as it took several hours to make, but it sure turned out great and it is sure a great cause. 

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month...check out this website for news and information on prevention and treatment of breast cancer. 

You can see last years submissions here.

You can follow this year's contest on the Ellis Fischel Facebook page here.

I am linking to these great parties...

Ellen

Dictionary Page Pumpkin

This is a very simple project made with book pages…I used a dictionary because I had an old one from Salvation Army store for 50 cents.  I also found the paper mache pumpkin there and it set me back a mere $1.  Mod podge and a brush is all you need to make this cute pumpkin. 

I used the P pages…you know, P for pumpkins!

It’s really very easy, you just wet the paper with Mod Podge, wet the pumpkin and then put the paper on the pumpkin and smooth it out with the brush.  Don’t push too hard or you will be recovering that area!

Make sure all the surface of the pumpkin is covered and coat with one or two coats of Mod Podge to seal the pumpkin.

I covered the face on mine and just let the paper sort of settle in those areas.  I like how the mouth is minimally defined.

I had cut out the words around pumpkin so I could paste it on when I was done with all the layers.  So here it is, right by pump, pumpernickel, and pumpkin seed.

So this is a great idea for kids or grown ups as well!  Mine went into my bushel of pumpkins for the MDA family fundraiser!

Yup, it’s buried in that basket full of mostly handmade pumpkins!

I am linking to these great parties here!

Ellen

MHBC Fish Fry and a Birthday Party

This weekend the Lootens came to town for the MHBC fish fry…and to visit of course! 

Laney telling me that she called Sam Buster!

And telling me a story…

Audrey chowing down with Grandma and Grandpa Looten.

and hanging out with momma…

Apparently she is now a momma’s girl!

I think this was the most fun of Audrey’s evening…they had a swimming pool full of birdseed with cups in it.  She played in that birdseed for as long as we let her.

The end of the night…the light in the tent made it look so cozy!

Sunday after church we had a dual birthday party for Chuck and Laney.

Audrey was not impressed, Sam held her for a while and she was quiet.

Laney telling the big guys how to play Wii

This picture cracks me up!

Audrey fell asleep before she even ate!

Sweet baby feet!

Laney looks scared of all those candles on her Grandpa’s cake!

Grandma helping Laney blow out her candles.

It was definitely a princess sort of birthday…

Not sure why the princess is frowning here!

Ellen

Making Silent Auction Baskets and Other Things

This past weekend my church had their big annual fundraiser for the debt free building fund.  I always make several baskets to donate for the silent auction.  This next weekend is my family’s MDA fundraiser in southern Illinois.  I always donate a lot of things for that fundraiser too! Here’s a few things that I have been working on…

The Mizzou basket…set of four potholders, two badge reel clips, two decorated kitchen towels, 10 bean bags, two glasses case, a black and gold clutch purse…

The beach basket…all things blue and seashell-y!

I am still working on more baskets…a pumpkin basket, a patriotic basket, a fall fun basket, some felted wool acorns in a mason jar, wool mittens, a bride dress up basket, lots more! 

I am linking to these great parties!

Ellen

Pumpkin Harvest

Last weekend I spent most of Saturday making pumpkins from machine felted wool sweaters.  I have been collecting orange lambs wool or merino sweaters over the past year to make these cute guys…

You can go here to see how to make them…

I am linking to these great parties!
I am also showing off at Mindy Mae's Market!

Ellen

I will never forget…9/11/01

 

I remember exactly where I was, what I did, how I just wanted my son with me (he was in school) so I could protect him some how, some way. 

I remember how in disbelief I watched the plane hit the second tower, holding my breath, thinking how it couldn’t really be happening.  Not in my country, not in the United States of America.

I remember being glued to the TV, I wanted to see it all, hear every news report about this disaster. I remember my son asking me why it kept happening…he assumed every time the footage was on TV it was happening again.  That was when I turned off the TV.  I hadn’t considered this was how a 7 year old might translate the relentless footage of the airplane hitting the tower, the people running and screaming.

I remember how packed the church was the Sunday after…full of people wanting reassurance that life would be the same again, full of people wanting to be with family and friends.  And there wasn’t a dry eye in that church when the choir sang America the Beautiful. 

 

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet

Whose stern impassion'd stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness.

America! America!

God mend thine ev'ry flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes prov'd

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country lov'd,

And mercy more than life.

America! America!

May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness,

And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears.

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea.

Ellen

Wool Pumpkin Pins

I made some big wool pumpkins today, so I had lots of orange scrap wool just waiting for me to make these pumpkin pins! 

I cut black felt with pinking shears for the eyes and used a satin stitch for the mouth.  I added one to two layers of batting in the middle of the two layers to give them dimension and a sprig of green felt for the stem.

I think they are especially cute!

I am linking to these fun parties!

Ellen