All posts in category Crafts

Hobbies

Well, I promised pictures no matter what they looked like!

On Monday night I went to my first cake decorating class.  I took this same course about a year ago and didn’t do too well.  So I’m trying again.  Tonight there was a lot of instruction on making the proper icing for the cake, for the flowers and for other decorations.  We learned lots of little hints that I didn’t hear about last time, so I’m feeling good about this instructor.

We only used one decorator tip for making stars.  We practiced and then applied our “skill” on cookies.  We were told to bring six.  I bought 12 because I knew I needed a little extra help.  Yes, I said bought.  I wanted them to be round and not the strange shapes my “round” cookies turn into.  We also learned a tip for getting round cookies!

Anyway, here are my results.  I’m so glad I can’t hear you laughing at my mess!

Those top two are my attempt at bunny ears!!

 

 

I tried to make them pretty by putting them under glass. 

Next week we are to bring in a cake (which I will bake) to decorate.

 I might have bitten off more than I can chew though.  Hubby and I are in the midst of taking this great class on prosperity at church.  Since next week will be our 10th and final class, we were asked if any of us wanted to bring a treat for a little party.  I said I would bring my cake that I will be decorating.  Gosh I hope it looks okay.  I’m pretty sure it will taste good though and luckily there will be other yummy desserts too.

A few posts ago I showed you the fabric I got for my spring table runner. It went much faster on my second attempt at quilting. I cut out everything and I’ve completed two of the five squares. I have to sew the other three together. Here’s what they look like so far.

 

 

  It’s really going to be pretty I think.  I’ll take pictures when I finish it and post them.

Since my family is coming in tonight for the week,  I might be too busy to post for a few days.  So, I’m wishing you all a very joyous Easter filled with lots and lots of love, friendship and great food.

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16 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on April 4, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Crafts, Family, Food, Holidays, Joy

Posted by Ellen Beeton on April 4, 2012

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/hobbies/

Easter Table!!

I love decorating for Easter.  It’s so bright and cheery.  The pastels are my favorite.

Here is my Easter Tablescape.

 It all started when earlier this year I found this adorable table runner.  I loved it and decided to decorate around it.  I love the colors.

 

I finally found yellow, pink and purple candles.

 I found my gold chargers and dishes at the Goodwill store too.   The China is called Winley.   The smaller plate under the bowl which I will show in a bit is from my mother’s china.

Actually, I got the tablecloth, the pink basket (which I painted because it wasn’t pink),  the cute little bunnies, the napkins and the largest candlesticks at the Goodwill store too.    It’s my new home away from home.

 

I alread had the stemware and flatware along with the two other pairs of candlestick holders. 

 

 

 

 I couldn’t find any napkin rings that I liked within my budget, so I just tied bows around the napkins and I think they look so cute.

 

 

 

 

This was the most fun I’ve had creating a tablescape even though it’s only my third one.

I’m already planning more.  I think I’ve found my new hobby and I owe it all to you wonderful tablescapers out there in blogland.

27 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on March 31, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Crafts, Holidays, Joy

Posted by Ellen Beeton on March 31, 2012

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2012/03/31/easter-table/

St. Patrick’s Day Table

Posting my second tablescape!  I’m so new at this – I know my pictures could stand a little work and my table, well it could use some work too, but I’m having fun with what I have and that’s all that matters, right?

I set a table for four.  Yes, I know the picture could be better.  I can’t believe I didn’t get it centered.

 My bowls, napkins, candlesticks, crocheted table runner and tablecloth all came from the Goodwill store (and the prices were right.)

My little bucket, flowers, beads and chargers came from Michael’s.

I made my napkin rings from St. Pat’s garland I had.  I added the little buttons because we were having house guests that included two little boys who I thought might like to have them.

I thought the table looked cute.  I made the little bows on the orange candles because I had some St. Pat’s ribbon.

 I made some goodies for the kids, cake pops and candy which they LOVED so that made me happy.

Mmmm, yummy!

I hope you all have a great St. Patrick’s Day.

23 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on March 15, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Crafts, Family, Food, Holidays, Inspiration

Posted by Ellen Beeton on March 15, 2012

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/st-patricks-day-table/

Doing a little this, a little that.

I feel like I haven’t blogged in so very long, yet it’s only been about 10 days.  Time does fly when you are busy busy!

I made a quick trip to California to visit some of my grandchildren.  I actually went to southern California and picked up our daughter Karla and granddaughter Katrina.

Here is a cute picture of Katrina showing us her new engagement ring!

We drove up to northern California to visit daughter Jan and granddaughters Jessica, Elena and Ghianna.

Here is a cute picture of Elena, Jessica and Ghianna.

 We talked until our voices were hoarse.  So much fun.  It was just a short “girl” trip that was not long enough.

The day after I came home  I had to take Sugar Plum to have her dental work done.  She has not been feeling well.  Notwithstanding the Valley Fever, she has been nauseated and just lethargic and not wanting to play.  I just blogged about it recently.  When Sugar Plum doesn’t want to play tug o’ war, I know something is wrong.

 

 I had been told on her last check up last summer that we should be thinking about some dental work and certainly a teeth cleaning.  I was putting it off because it’s so expensive.  That is a no no!  I found that out the hard way.   What originally was going to take a little over an hour ended up taking about four hours.  Also, what was supposed to cost $375 came to just a hair under $900!  She had to have six teeth pulled, two of which had broken off and the gums had healed over.  The roots had to be extracted and they were so tiny and very brittle.  They kept breaking and were very hard to get out.  She had already lost eight other teeth, so with the six that were pulled I was afraid that she would not be able to eat again!  Who knew that dogs have 40 teeth!  Well, she had a rough time, but I’m happy to say that she is feeling much better today.

So now on to this week.  Believe it or not, we are heading off for another quick trip to California on Friday.  Our granddaughter, Summer is in her school play, Cats.  We can’t miss that.  So I’ll be sure to let you know how that goes.  We will only be gone a few days.

I have another sewing lesson tomorrow.  I will be posting pictures of my project once I get it fixed.  If you remember, I’m making a Christmas wall hanging.  I sewed all my squares and triangles together and we should be putting it together and quilting it tomorrow.  BUT, I somehow sewed in three  triangles backwards or upside down or sideways or something, because they are wrong.  I’m pretty sure I’ll be spending most of my lessons fixing my mistakes.  Oh well, I bet I won’t make that mistake again.

I hope you all have a very blessed week.

19 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on February 28, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Crafts, Family, Joy, Pets, Travel, Uncategorized

Posted by Ellen Beeton on February 28, 2012

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/doing-a-little-this-a-little-that/

Valentine’s Day Table

I love reading all sorts of blogs.  I read blogs on dogs, blogs on farms, blogs on beautiful homes, blogs on food and recipes, blogs on crafts and hobbies, and I have recently become interested in reading blogs on tablescapes.

  During the holidays, they are incredible.

So being the type of person I am (a bit copycat, a bit adventurous), I decided I needed to try this.

 First of all, the difficulty I found was that I only had a set of white dishes, besides my Spode Christmas dishes and my mother’s white china.  I noticed people  seemed to have a set not only for every occasion, but for almost every single week and in every color and pattern.  So being the type of person I am (a bit copycat and a bit thrifty) I headed down to my new favorite store, the Goodwill.

So, presenting my first tablescape!

Tea for Two Valentine style

I love candles.  I had to make and tie bows around the white candles because one had broken.  The bow holds it together nicely.

Oh, by the way, the red table cloth and the white lace table cloth were both wonderful finds at the Goodwill.  I also found the blue vase there.  I already had the cute little pink roses.   I had the red napkins, but I didn’t have any napkin rings that would go here.  I only had them for  Christmas and Thanksgiving.  I did, however, have these blue ones so I thought, why not put in some blue, hence the napkin rings and the blue vase.

 So now since I only had the white plates,  I realized I had to go to the Goodwill.  Look at these adorable blue-flowered bowls I found!  They were 99 cents each and they were beautiful!  I got six because you never know.

I had looked for some place mats but just couldn’t find anything I liked until I went to Walmart and found these lovely red wood chargers.  I loved them so here they are.

I guess I could have done a better job of showing my stemware.  They are from Princess House.  I used to sell it in the early 1980s.  I still have quite a bit left.

So pretty.

I’ve had this little tea set forever.  It is not complete, but I still love it.

I added this simply because I think it’s cute.  I put a red candle I had into my little crystal heart dish.  I collect these little figurines and thought that this one was the perfect Valentine’s Day piece.  Then I just pulled out my tin that sort of matches.  It makes me happy every time I look this!

 

 Well, that’s it!  My first (and very amateurish) tablescape.  I only hope they will get bigger and better and more beautiful as I learn this lovely craft.  I had fun.  I worried if you would like it.  Then I decided to just go for it and enjoy myself.

I already bought a cute tablecloth and place mats for Easter.  Yes, at the Goodwill store.  It’s going to be so much fun.

19 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on February 9, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Crafts, Holidays, Inspiration, Joy

Posted by Ellen Beeton on February 9, 2012

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2012/02/09/valentines-day-table/

Home Safe and Almost Sound


Finally home and back to normal – at least what I call normal.

First of all, we had a great time in California visiting family and relatives, notwithstanding the miserable head cold and sinus infection I was battling, and still am a little.  We stayed so busy that I just didn’t find the time to blog and to keep up with all the blogs I follow.  I didn’t know how much I would miss keeping up with my “friends.”

All in all, during our time in California we went to three Christmas parties, a play on New Year’s eve (It’s a Wonderful Life), several dinners out with friends and family, at least three “game” nights, a few lunches, mini trips, oh my I could go on and on but you get the picture.  Even little Sugar and Meeka were kept quite busy while staying with our granddogs, Luke, Goldie and Biscuit affectionately known as “Bizzy” because she is always in to something.  In fact, this will show you what I mean.

Here she is “bizzy” with a green pen. Look at her little paws all green.

Here she is after playing in the backyard.

Anyway, I believe out trip to California was a success.

I was so sick when we got home, it took me days to take down “Christmas” which I didn’t bother to do before we left.  

Enough of that.  Today is a new day and I’m feeling much better.  The new year has begun and as before – I know this year will be even better than the last, which I think might be hard to beat.  I always think that, and then I’m always surprised at how great life is.  I know it’s a matter of my attitude though.  I am in charge of making my life just as great as I want it to be.  

Don’t get me wrong, crappy stuff still happens, I still get in bad moods or angry at Hubby.  I just don’t stay there as long as I used to.  I don’t dwell on the crappy stuff.  At my age, I have certainly learned that it comes and goes and I don’t have any control over that.  What I do have control over is how I react to it or how I handle it.   I also choose to look at life through the eyes of my heart.  It makes for a beautiful world.  I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, but I an always making goals to feel better about myself.  Right now I’m working on accepting others and not judging.  To be honest, I’ve been working on it for awhile.  I thought I had the “non-judgment” thing down pat.  Wrong wrong wrong.  I’ve been judging all of those I see “judging.”  I have found myself getting angry and upset that everyone isn’t as non-judgmental as I am!!!  What a laugh, right?  Who do I think I am???  Talk about getting hit upside the head with a giant board!  Sometimes I crack myself up.  Oh well, it’s the journey, right?

I also have some other things lined up that I’m excited about.  I have another sewing lesson scheduled and I’m going to make a quilted wall hanging.  I’d really like to make one for each season and just use one or the other all year long.  I’m going to try to get better at cake decorating.  I don’t see that happening without going to more classes, but I haven’t set them up yet.  I’m also going to check back with the local elementary school and see if they are still considering me as a volunteer.  I think that would be so much fun.  Most importantly, I’m open to whatever might come my way.  I’m sure there is something I haven’t thought of doing.  Ah, the adventure of it all.  

I think I’ll just quit here and go have some fun catching up on all my blog buddies.  

I hope you all have a very happy, prosperous and blessed New Year. 

7 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on January 10, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Crafts, Family, Gratitude, Inspiration, Life Changes, Pets, Travel, Uncategorized

Posted by Ellen Beeton on January 10, 2012

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/home-safe-and-almost-sound/

Random Decorations

No tree this year because we will be out of town for Christmas.

But I still had to put out a little Christmas cheer.

Even my lovely village that I haven’t put up since 1999.

My table usually looks so beautiful when I have all my Spode Christmas dishes out.  I haven’t decided whether to take them out of not  – just for our enjoyment.  Not having Christmas here this year!

Maybe we will have company next year and I can go crazy with the decorations.

12 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on December 7, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Crafts, Holidays, Joy

Posted by Ellen Beeton on December 7, 2011

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/random-decorations-2/

Newly Made Christmas Wreath

This

Turned into This

Not sure I like the pine cone and the bells.  Maybe in needs more bells.

I had fun making it.  I will be making more traditional wreaths in a few weeks.

14 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on November 18, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Crafts, Holidays, Joy

Posted by Ellen Beeton on November 18, 2011

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/newly-made-christmas-wreath/

My first cake

Here is my very first attempt at cake decorating. What do you think? I guess I’ll take some more classes.

5 Comments
by Ellen Beeton on November 5, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Crafts, Joy

Posted by Ellen Beeton on November 5, 2011

https://injoyinmylife.wordpress.com/2011/11/05/my-first-cake/