Sorry I haven't been around much!!

Had my first craft table. I so was busy making handcrafted items for it. I made more wall hangings, bookmarkers and these snowmen ornaments. Each one is different. I used the clear glass balls you can buy at craft stores, beads, vintage jewelry, all kinds of embellishments and lots of glitter!!! I'm planning to make some more to sell at another craft show here in my home town, but this one will be closer to Christmas. I will show the wall hangings here in a few days.

First Day of Art Class

On our first day of school, some of my students didn't make it to class because of the fires. So in my morning class I only had Hannah. I didn't want us to get too far ahead, so after a very short drawing lesson we made these adorable owls using paper and toilet paper rolls. These are the two she made, look how she made eyes. They are looking at each other, how cute is that! That was two weeks ago. Today class is getting back to normal and so is life for me. Wish I could say the same for those who lost homes in the wildfires. I'm thankful that none of my friends or students lost their homes!!! I'm thankful for the firemen who worked for about a week containing these awful fires. We've had several much needed rainshowers and the weather is beginning to cool down some. We still need more rain, but I'm so thankful for the little we have gotten.

Just a little note about Hannah, one of my very first post was about her 4th birthday party and here she is a big 7 year old.

Please Pray For Rain In Texas

All these dark looking clouds are really smoke from one of Texas's many wildfires. It looks closer than it is, but it's close enough for us to smell the smoke. Today it was so strong it made my throat burn and there were ashes, burnt leaves and plants coming out of the clouds of smoke. It covered our cars and anything outside. These pictures are from the fires in Montgomery, Grimes and Waller Counties. I have many friends who have had to evaluate from their homes. At this moment they are not allowed back to see if they have a home left. Because of the drought in Texas all the trees and plants are dying. Which is fuel for the fire. Tropical Lee brought in high winds that made the fires jump and made it impossible for the firefighters to put out. Just when it looks like they have contained, it flares up again. The wind and conditions are causing it to spread. My home and family are safe for now, but with fire you never know where and when another fire could start. We have another fire going strong that has burnt many homes in a town call Bastrop. My prayer is that Texas would get lots of needed rain in the next few months. I know that there are other States that are having fires, floods and hurricanes. We need to be on our knees praying for our Country!!!

Heart Wall Hanging

My latest wall hanging. I bought the heart shaped doily at an antique store in Corpus Christi on vacation this summer. I layered it with black wool felt on the back and muslin fabric on the front. Then I stitched on a red heart, black tulle and black lace. I wrote out the bible scripture on muslin fabric. I embellished with red and black beads, a rhinestone button. The flower with the feather came from a headband I bought at a grocery store for one dollar, I also bought a white one. I'm sure it will show up on another project in the future.

Rag Rug Purse

I made this purse using the rag rug technique that my friend Heather from The Patchwork Heart uses to make adorable rugs. I used muslin fabric. It is so soft and fluffy, I'm very happy the way it turned out.

I found this lamp shade at a antique store on our vacation. I had been looking for a lampshade for this lamp that goes beside my chair in my craft cottage.......I saw this one and knew it would be perfect. It's kind of stained, but I think that makes it even more interesting. The lamp was brass and I painted it the same color as the lampshade. It has that cottage look.

Texas Wall Hanging

This wall hanging has been shuffled around my craft cottage for several months half finished. Yes, a UFO!!!!! I was struggling with it, you know what I mean? I knew it needed something special, but what? Then I remembered that rusty star I had it hanging in the window of my craft cottage, It was covered up by a lacy valance. The perfect thing! So I finished it yesterday. Still not sure I really like the outcome, I may changed it still. But I can cross it off my to-do list for now and that is always a good feeling!!

Where Bloggers Create:Blog Party

Welcome to my craft cottage!! When I read that Karen Valentine of My Desert Cottage was going to have her "Where Blogger Create" Party again this year I knew I wanted to be part of it!! My little craft cottage is a dream come true! It was my 25th wedding anniversary present from my husband, even though it took several years to complete. He and my sons worked on it during the slow time of year, but it was worth the wait. They did most of the work themselves.

This is where I create, inspire and sometimes just come to relax, I like to just sit, look out the window and watch the birds at the bird bath and at the feeder. Sometimes I just sit on the little porch and drink a glass of ice tea. My husband will join me and we will share the happenings of the day. It's not uncommon for someone to drop by for a visit. I've had lot of nice chats in my craft cottage, I've had more than one tell me it's a very peaceful place.

In my craft cottage I teach art and craft classes to home schoolers and I have friends over to create with me. Most of the time it's just me. I pop in a CD (usually worship music)and just enjoy what I love to do the most....create. I love to dapple in many medias, but my favorite crafts are mixed media, card making and fabric collages.

Outside My Craft Cottage

Morning Glories, but I have no blooms yet.

My work areas.
This is where I do most of my creating, but I did clean it up for the picture. Most of the time it's piled up with on going projects.

This is a overall view of my work spaces

This is my table where most of young students work at, I cover it with a plastic tablecloth when they are using it.

On my shelves, well at least some of the items, I have too many items to show!

These are only a few of my rubber stamps!!

My sister made me this wall hanging.

These are a few of my favorite supplies

All this was just recently given to me.

Thank you for visiting my craft cottage!! Please stop by anytime and see what I've been up to!!!