Teddy bear sort of paper doll

Vacation time is almost here and road trips may be in the cards.  Bet you didn’t know that felt sticks to itself, did you?  Why not make a travel felt doll to entertain your favorite little girl on long car rides? This project is super quick to make and uses very little supplies.  You can change Miss Bear’s clothing by simply pressing onto the doll. This portable play set uses an inexpensive pocket folder for storing extra clothing. Don’t fret; little boy projects are in the works!

Print out the pattern on a full size 8 ½” x 11” pieces of paper. 

You will need:

Felt in various colors

Inexpensive pocket folder

Extras such as, lace, ribbon, buttons, whatever you have on hand

Two googly eyes and one tiny pompom for nose (you can substitute a small circle of black felt instead of a pompom)

Black dimensional fabric paint

Tacky glue

1.     Glue felt onto the front and back of the folder.

2.     Trace the pattern onto the correct colors of felt and cut out. (see photo) Cut the main bear body from a piece of tan felt. Cut the belly, ear, and muzzle pieces out of light tan.  Center the main body piece on the front of the folder that you have already covered with felt.  Attach with tacky glue.  Glue on the ears, muzzle and belly pieces.  Glue the googly eyes and nose as shown (See photo) Draw the mouth shape with the fabric paint and let dry completely

3.     Cut out the clothing pieces and decorate with embellishments as shown.

4.     Store the clothing in the pockets.  Clothing sticks to the felt bear without tabs.

5.     Why not use the patterns to make lots of clothes in different felt colors.

Party games?

As the crow flies?

As the crow flies is an adage that usually refers to the most direct route.  Modern airlines used to get you to your destination as the crow flies.  Unfortunately with cutbacks and cost saving efforts, this is no longer true.  The crow is flying a bit crooked these days.

My son, who just finished Tech School in Texas, decided he wanted to come home for a week visit before he goes to his duty base.  He booked a flight.  I live in Virginia, not 40 miles from the Nation’s capital, and he was coming from Texas. 

His flight went like this…fly to Dallas, wait and switch planes, fly to Miami, wait some more, get on another plane and finally fly to D.C.    Total travel time, close to nine hours.  Now, lets visualize a U.S. map.  We start out directly across from our destination, but find its better go down that map as far as we can only to turn around and go up the map.

It gets better.  When researching flight to his new base in N. D. I learn that I must first go to Atlanta, and then go to Minneapolis, and from that point, travel to N. D.

What’s next, going to Europe via the Arctic Circle?

Personally I think I have figured out how they come up with these itineraries.  The Airline executives all get together and have a martini lunch.  After about six cocktails, they decide to map out the routes for upcoming flights.  They attach a map on the wall, and blindfold the CEO.  He has a big pushpin and he’s twirled around three times and directed towards the map.  They all have fun and pretty soon they have all their flights mapped out. 

This technique may be familiar to you as the child’s game of pin the tail on the donkey or in country jargon, “going around your elbow to get to your ass”.

(Honestly now, I didn’t curse, look it up-- an ass is just a donkey)

p.s.  The pastel above was painted a few years ago when my son was around 11 years old.  He is now a handsome 19 year old airman first class.  :-)

Canine conniption?

Puhhhhleeeese can I come?

Have you ever experienced a conniption fit?  Do you even know what conniption means?  A simple trip to the dictionary explains that a conniption is a real word that describes a fit of rage or hysterics. This hysterical outburst  often results after learning of something unpleasant. And here I just thought it was some sort of made up word to underline the behavior of someone who is on the edge.

Conniption…what a cool word don’t you think?  Oh conniption, I know you well.

“Mom I think I may just drop out of school and join the circus.”

Conniption.

“Hey dad, sorry about the dent, a I swerved so I wouldn’t hit the old lady.”

Conniption.

“But mom, all the kids are getting tattoos.”

Conniption.

“Yes the dog ate my report card, right after she ate my homework.”

Conniption.

“No, Fido,  you have to stay here, you can’t come with me to work.”

CANINE CANNIPTION.

Just a note that I will posting articles that I have previously worked on since my 19 year old son is visiting for a week before he goes to his new AFB....far, far away :-(

Things about myself, Crystal clearly stated

Cut Paper Arabian Horse ACEO

Having recently received pats on the back from some of my blogging buddies I am encouraged, as payment, to disclose some information about myself.  Well, here it comes, are you ready?

As far as lives go, there is always rain, but quite often sunshine follows.

It rained the day my child was born and in a week she was gone.

The sun shone a year later when a Mary (my daughter) arrived.

The rain poured down on a young widow with one child.

The sun came out when I met a prince in a grief support group.  My little family grew by five. 

The stormy fear of flying squashed my dreams of travel.

The sunny strength of the man I married helped me to overcome this fear.

No amount of rain could stop the allergies aggravated by the touch of a beautiful horse…but

The sun shines bright as I paint their free-spirited joy...with a brush and a touch of Zyrtec

My life is a thunderstorm of foibles and mistakes.

The sun gave way to a rainbow turned upside down into a great big smile. Humor, they say and the ability to laugh at oneself is a gift we give to ourselves. 

A deluge blocked the words that begged to appear.

The Sun came out and illuminated a blog, yes a blog, and allowed me the freedom to release those words and forge friendships.

If you read between the lines and the metaphors then you know me a little better.

Thank you all for being my friends.

I think that shall never see, a poem as lovely as a tree, for Mr. Toasts Creative Tuesday

"The Grandfather" ACEO

When my husband and I first got married and started looking for a house I had but one request.  There had to be trees. Nothing would do but big, large, shady trees that would cool the house in the hot Virginia summers. They would be a haven for the colorful birds that I enjoyed feeding. You see, I’ve always loved trees, the bigger, and more knotted the better.

They say that wrinkles on the human face are a sign of great wisdom.  Thanks, but I’ll pass on that.  Trees are an entirely different story.  Give me the ones that have the wrinkles and the great age. I’ll take the ones that have seen many things and witnessed many momentous events. They’ve a story to tell and I am listening.  Are you?

The theme for Mr. Toasts Creative Tuesdays this week is “Trees.” Please enjoy my entry an ACEO called “The Grandfather.”  Check out all the other super creative artwork at:

Thank you, thank you

Well, today I would like to thank  Daniella and Maddy for bestowing me with a blogging award.  So thank you twice...thank you, thank you, dear friends.

To find just a few bloggers to give this award to, would be next to impossible.  I love all your blogs, I love all my followers, and blogging friends.  If I could, I would give them an award every day...the Crystal Clear Award, but since there is no such award and therefore no button for this award I will just have to say it---and you know who are....you are the bestest!

7 things about myself?  Well lets just say I'm working on it.  Soon, very soon Crystal will be a little clearer.

Have a great (what's left of it) weekend everybody

My obsession with travel and dirt

ACEO, Bahamas

Yes, you read it right.  I used to have an obsession with dirt.  It isn’t as odd as it sounds…so let me explain.

When I was little I wanted to travel.  Anywhere that was at least a state away from my own was where I longed to be.  I sent away to pretty much all fifty Chambers of Commerce and in return I received colorful travel brochures.  I put them in a box and stashed it under my bed. Occasionally I would take them out and scan the pages making a mental list of those places that I just had to see.

My parents had other ideas, and four kids who sometimes made travel to anywhere further than the corner grocery store rather difficult.  They tried, though.  Once a year or so they would pile us kids in the back seat of the family station wagon.  They’d listen to us quibble and fight over who touched whom, and which one of us got the window seat.  Occasionally my dad would threaten to stop the car.  He never did.

Eventually without the aid of a DVD player, video games or cell phones we managed to reach our destination, which were sometimes several states away.  That is when I started collecting dirt. 

Whenever we would cross a state line, I made dad stop the car and I would fill up an empty pill bottle with dirt.  My intention was to create a map of the United States and in each state section add it’s actual dirt, thereby creating a genuine topographical map. 

As I grew older I amassed quite a collection (in my eyes anyway) of perhaps 15 states, but I was far from completing my goal.  I grew up and life, as it sometimes has a tendency to do, got in the way.  Marriage, family and kids became the biggest priority.

Sadly, I gave up collecting dirt and I just tossed the empty pill and aspirin bottles into the trash instead of my room.

Today, innocently smuggling dirt from various states, is generally frowned upon when traveling by air. Times are different now.  Can you imagine trying to take a pill bottle full of dirt through TSA?  I can see me trying to explain that right now:

“But its just dirt.” I innocently explain.

“Follow me maam.”  He answers.

So to conclude, although I have visited many, many states…and countries since that long ago little girl dreamed of travel and collecting dirt, I now just keep the dirt in my mental map.  Once in a while, when no one is looking, I visit the storage area of my basement and take out those old, battered, bottles, open the caps, and remember.

Paint Party Friday all day...and night

My beautiful Irises are almost finished blooming.  The inspiration from their colorful hues, however, remains. Vincent Van Gogh painted many an iris from his native Holland and in his honor for Paint Party Friday; I offer my version of the many hued flowers.  One is titled Day-ly Iris and the other; yup you guessed it…Night-ly Iris.  Sorry for the poor quality of the photos, I'm not the best of photographers.

I never tire of painting the ruffles and ridges of these flowers, and the variations, well they are just amazing!

Glad things are working the way they are supposed to work today.  Don’t think I could deal with another week of issues.  A new router arrived, blogger decided to behave, and the sun is shining so all is right with the world.   I just feel like doing nothing, but I will be late opening the store….Could it be, that I am getting distracted?   You betcha!

Visit all the wonderful art to be discovered at Paint Party Friday.   Thanks to Kristen and Eva…they are the best!

Where do you go when you can’t get UNDER the weather?

ACEO...bet they are happy!

Ok, this post is not about being sick, unless of course I am referring to the constant rain we have had for the past week.  Yeah, I am sick of that.  The rain we have been receiving without end has stranded motorists, flooded roads and sent the nearby Rappahannock River over its banks.

The term under the weather actually refers to seasickness (when ancient sailors would go below deck to get out of the weather when not feeling well) and if it doesn’t stop raining soon being at sea might not be too far a stretch.

I know all the cute little phrases about may flowers and liquid sunshine since my husband, the perennial optimist, keeps coming up with new ones.

As for me I will be content to just get “under the weather,” meaning my basement studio and paint, flowers and trees and sunshiny days.  For now, that may be the only place where the sun will shine.

If it doesn’t stop soon, well, I’m almost ready to lead a mutiny and maybe…c’mon you knew it was coming… walk the plank.  

Rappahannock river...pastel

Through a child's eyes

"misunderstood" 5 x7 acrylic

What is a weed, and how exactly does a plant earn that oh so undesirable designation?  I guess weeds are hardier, but does that make them weedier?  They are more prolific and drought resistant, could that be it?  Maybe it is because we don’t actually plant weeds and they just sort of appear. 

Did you know that dandelions are edible?  People have eaten the young leaves, made wine out of it, and drank it as a tea for centuries.  Personally I’ve never tried to eat dandelions but its nice to know that there is something out there that is easily identifiable and edible, just in case.

Children look at things in much more simplistic ways.  Dandelions to their young eyes are pretty and yellow and no one yells at you if you pick them.

If you’ve ever received a bouquet of flowers from a loved one your usual response is a kiss and a smile.  On the other hand what would you do if you receive a bouquet of dandelions with a few buttercups thrown in for good measure?  You’d kiss that child and smile, that is what you would do.  And then you would get down your nicest vase and put it in a place of honor.   Maybe, children in their innocence are much wiser than we give them credit for.

As Shakespeare so eloquently noted…a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet.