Head Phone Cord Wrap

Do you have old store cards, hotel room keys, or credit cards?

Now you have a device to control head phone cords:

You can also use different configurations for larger cords. 

Old Neck Tie Projects - 10 FEB 2016

In the mid 80's, I was given a large garbage bag full of old ties, that a friend had purchased at a garage sale. I pulled out all the blues and greens, washed and disassembled them and put them back into storage.

Now, thirty years later, I've started on my log cabin quilt. Each panel is unique.

Because many of the ties were silk and would slide around on the sewing machine, I hand stitched the panels. Last year I finished all the panels and this year, a friend will put them together for me.

With the scrapes, I created panels that I've been using to create insulated bottle holders.

I've been going through Pinterest and found 101 projects for old ties, but none of them show what I've been doing for the last 30 years. Whenever I buy a hat (new or used) I attach a custom hat band made from one of my old ties.

I've also converted several of them into women's ties.

Bought a large old clay pot that was disintegrating...I sealed it, decoupaged old ties, and painted the rim.

Belt Frame – Mar 2014

A friend sent me a craft idea about using an old belt to make a photo frame…then her mother sent me an old belt. This is what I created:

It would be hard to find a used belt large enough to make anything larger than a 4x6. I started with Ikea frames. 

Stained them and cut the belt to size. 

First, I glued the four belt pieces together, then I glued the leather to the frame.

Since the Ikea frames come in a three pack, I used some recycled leather to cover the other two frames. It had been a coat I bought at a thrift store for a different project.

The outside gives you leather.

The underside gives you suede.

Then adding some of my western fine art images, I have the finished products: 

Big Valley

Home on the Range

Laredo

Stacking Flower Pots - 25 SEP 2013

I first saw it in a magazine and then, again on television. When I saw a metal pole sitting in the corner, I decided to make myself one. I bought four inexpensive terra cotta pots.

I used leftover house paint…starting with a white base.

Then using a sponge I layered a pattern, again using leftover paint.

The final coat was using a brush to add some red sparkle craft paint.

Already had the large pot…jam in the pole, stack the pots, fill with soil and plants…instant yard art:

3-County Fair, Northampton, MA – 31 AUG 2013

This small local fair, is the oldest continuously operated agricultural fair in the United States.

This 196^th edition had a little of everything from Las Vegas Magic show to a Renaissance joust. I had attended the Paradise City Arts Festival in May at the same location.

It was hot and humid so most of the animals were lethargic…except for the goats which were begging by the feed vending machine.

They were so aggressive that the children would jump back in fright.

There was a very interesting display of antique motors which dated from 1913 forward and were used for everything from wood chopping to lawn mowers.

The tent to the left was filled several engines that were running, with lots of coughing, spiting, popping, and backfiring.

There was a large interesting display of local antique milk bottles. Every building had people in attendance who would answer any questions.

I had never seen ones with spoons before. The Collector showed me how it worked. These were special bottles that held milk with cream. The spoon would hang on the edge of the bottle and bowl would drop inside the bottle creating a seal at the neck to allow for the cream to be poured out. 

Many exhibits were hard to photograph as the booths were covered in chicken wire.

I was spending a lot of time checking out all the details on this Fruit & Vegetable display by Martha Emerson, which had won the State Award:

I was noticing all the details: hand carved wooden tractor, hand-made quilt which had a trim with a barbed wire pattern, photographs, sunflowers, fresh baked cookies, brownies and nut-bread, home preserves, jam, fresh picked veggies, home-made apron, a cow rag doll…when someone started talking to me. It turned out to be the artist, herself.

60 years old and this was her first time doing a booth. She said it was a challenge as all the fresh food had to be picked at the last minute and then arranged based on what she had to work with.

As with any fair there was an abundance of deep-fried food items. When I saw the 4-H food booth it brought back a rush of childhood memories.

My mother and her best friend had started our local 4-H club. The year my baby brother was born, our club was in charge of running the 4-H Dining Hall at the local county fair. Todd was 3 days old when he went to his first fair. My older sister told me, he was placed in a wicker basket and slept in the kitchen while everyone worked. She still has that basket and used it for her children and grandchild. She said back before there were child safety car seats, air bags and shoulder harnesses, that basket would fit tightly in the back seat, preventing baby movement.

As I was leaving, I noticed several of the classic cars and already left. Rain was predicted for the evening.

Then I found this wind vane near my hotel: