Wednesday, February 04, 2015

.@VickiBatman - Folk art anyone? #author Sam Cheever is crafting #MFRWorg #RLFblog

About 5 years ago, I decided to ask my family to make gifts for an annual Christmas exchange at my house. Some of us were excited about the prospect. Others…not so much. LOL Since then two things have happened. First, our gifts have gotten a LOT better and more creative and Second, some of us have been outed for the lazy, no good slugs we are… Oops, did I say that out loud? LOL

Seriously though, not everybody contributes and I’m okay with that. Some don’t do anything at all and some don’t quite follow the spirit of the exchange. My mother, for example, insists she’s not crafty or imaginative enough to actually make something…so she usually buys something like candy or flavored popcorn to give as a gift. But, though that’s not as much fun for the gift exchangers, I’m still glad she participates in the fun and I’m always hopeful we’ll inspire her with our enthusiasm to go that extra mile the next time. 

So why do I ask my family to make their gifts? Because the time and thought spent on the gifts is precious. To me, it embodies the whole spirit of Christmas. And though it’s a challenge every year for us to come up with new ideas, the feeling of accomplishment is so incredible and the pleasure when someone raves over what you’ve done…well…you can’t beat those feelings. 

I’ve run the gamut over the years from making a wire tree strung with tiny ornaments to making candles and soap. Each project had a level of success and a modicum of failure. This year I recreated something I actually saw hanging on the wall at our veterinarian’s office. (With 13 dogs we spend a LOT of time there, giving me plenty of opportunity to study the item that inspired me!).

 I loved the folk artsy feel of the tree so I went to the hobby store and found the stuff I needed to make it. Michael’s sells pieces of pine that I used to make the trunk of the tree and I cut the wood in varying lengths (3” less in length for each ascending “branch”) and used Liquid Nails to glue them on. I chose to put them on crooked, making a kind of zig-zag shape that, I think, made the tree more folksy. Then I drilled a hole on the top and holes on the ends of each branch. I used a star-shaped green button for the top because I like the bright green with the bright red buttons on the branches. I used soft jewelry wire to attach the “ornaments” to the ends of the branches so I could shape the dangle of the ornaments. 

You could stain the tree too. I chose to coat it with tinted oil instead. The tree that originally inspired me was made of weathered wood with rusted bells on the ends of the branches. I love that look too and might make the tree again next year with barn wood. The whole project probably took less than 2 hours once I had all the parts gathered up. That allows for drying time for the glue. 

Happy crafting, Everybody! 

Sam, this is just adorable!!!

He just wants her to take life a little more seriously. She’s decided he could have a point. Especially now that somebody wants her dead.
Dolfe Honeybun broke up with Blaise Runa because her party girl ways were driving him to distraction. Unfortunately, out of sight does NOT mean out of mind. And when his favorite party girl sees something she shouldn’t and finds herself being chased by a cold blooded killer… reason shuts down and Dolfe’s heart takes over. If only he can get to her in time!

Find Sam at:website

Find HoHo Honeybun at: Amazon

10 comments:

Sam Cheever said...

Thanks so much for letting me stop by and share Vicki!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Of course, Sam! and thank you for sharing your book and your craft!

Eve Mardis said...

I used to make afghans for Christmas and other occasions (I made a baby blanket for my niece when she was born, she has now used it for both of her children). Something to pass down .. "oh, that's the ornament that great-grandma Elizabeth Taylor made, or that's the rocking horse that gr-Uncle Boy George whittled ..." these are the gifts that people tend to treasure.

Book sounds great!

Sam Cheever said...

I totally agree, Eve! I made blankets for my kids and I still have one of them to give my daughter when she has her baby. I love the idea of passing gifts from generation to generation.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Eve! I have blankets my sister, mom, my grandmother and I made to pass on to my sons one day. I sure hope they appreciate it.

Last weekend, I visited my mom and we searched for some edging my grandmother made for me to sew on embroidered pillowcases my friend had stitched. So much fun looking thru my grandmother's hand work. She was amazing.

Melissa Keir said...

What a pretty tree. I used to make jewelry when I had more time in my life. I like the idea of being creative. It brings out so much more of ourselves in those gifts!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Melissa! I see Boy and Girl Scout craft project too. I agree, more creativity comes from creativity.

Unknown said...

Hi, Sam. My crafting started in second grade when my poor mother had to keep me busy and taught me to embroider. I also used the summer to make key chains and small change purses. The summer of my second grade started a lifetime of crafting.

While my brother is more of the artist, I wax crafty. I love it and have made handmade gifts for years. I love when someone takes the time to give me something they made. Crochet blankets, little girl purses, and a dozen more ... and most of these now end up on Etsy in my craft shop.

Love, love that tree and may covet the idea for next year:)

Oh ... and the book sounds wonderful. Seems you fashion gifts of love made by hand and from your head !!!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Florence! I love perusing your ETSY shop!!! I began embroidering at age 9 and haven't stopped. I have about 4 projects going right now and one is a fingertip towel with my initial. Hugs!

Angela Adams said...

This is a great school Art project! Thanks for sharing...