DIY - Wooden Pot Rack

This past Christmas my husband gifted me with an intro set of Mauviel M'heritage 250c Copper Pans (thankfully on sale.) They are so pretty and fantastic to use...but I had no place to store them and I wasn't about to hide those beautiful pans in a cabinet!

So I searched online for a pot hanger and found one that I really liked on Amazon HERE, but unfortunately, its dimensions didn't work for our kitchen. Thankfully, I have a wonderfully industrious husband, who volunteered to make a similar rack of our own.

We ordered the swivel hooks HERE, and the rest of the items came from a local hardware store, and our uncle's wood stash. I believe the wood he used is from a Kentucky Coffeetree. My husband formed and welded his own brackets and fashioned the rest after the one we found online.

It turned out beautiful!

Christmas Crafts

This past Christmas I had a few craft projects that I worked on.

First, I made these little star ornaments to give as presents to family.

Then, I made a little pink dress for Emma's doll.

Finally, I made Christmas aprons for our daughters and Emma.

It was such fun watching the girls open their presents.

DIY Crafting Project ~Decorated Milk Can Treasures

This past fall I managed to complete a craft project that I had been wanting to make--Decorated Milk Can Treasures. I had "inherited" a set of old milk cans from my grandma that I knew would make a wonderful housewarming gift for my daughter (and me). 

First I researched DIY ideas on Pinterest and finally settled on a design I liked.

Next, we had the cans sandblasted rather than trying to remove the rust with chemicals.

I wrapped the handles with painters' tape and spray painted each of the cans--

one a Rust-Oleum Wildflower Blue Satin, and the other a Krylon Gloss Cherry Red, giving them both two coats. 

Then I accented the lid, handles, and rooster design with a Rust-Oleum Brown Hammered Paint and Primer. I made a rooster template out of cardboard using a picture I found online and taped it to the dry painted cans.

To finish the project, I decorated the cans with some rafia and a set of cow bell ornaments.

Unfortunately, I failed to get a picture of the red can before giving it to my daughter,

but I love the blue can that earned a place in my kitchen.

What about you? Do you have a favorite DIY project in your home?

Another Craft Project - Wine Cork Wreath

This past Christmas I made a couple of wreaths, decorated with some wine corks I had been collecting. 

I kept one for myself and gave the other one to our oldest daughter and her husband.

To begin, I started with an 8" grapevine wreath I bought at Walmart for $4.99.

Then I wrapped it with half of a 6' grapevine cluster garland (one for each wreath) that I purchased at Hobby Lobby when it was on sale for half-price, and attached it to the wreath with hot glue in a couple of places to make sure it wouldn't come off.

Next I attached the bow to the wreath with some wire, and then began the process of attaching the wine corks with hot glue. I used my favorite wines and tried to cluster them by groups. I finished the project by accenting the wreath with a large cluster of grapes.

I love how it turned out! 

What about you? Do you enjoy making your own wreaths or wine cork crafts?

Wine Cork Crafts ~ Ornaments

I like to collect wine corks from favorite wines that we try.

I also like to make wine cork crafts. So far, I've made a wine cork wreath and these sweet ornaments we made a few years ago.

  

Materials needed: wine corks, medium-sized buttons, craft wire, rafia, hot glue, needle-nosed pliers, and a variety of beads and charms.

To begin, we glued buttons to the top and bottom of each cork, making sure not to place glue in the center. Then we curved a one-inch piece of wire with our pliers and stuck it into the button holes at the top of each cork to make the hanger. We did the same to the bottom, creating a ring for our pendants to hang on. 

 

To make the pendants, we used a 1-3 inch piece of wire and strung it with beads and charms, then hooked the top to the bottom ring on the cork.  

The project was a bit time consuming, but it was a fun for us to do one afternoon as we prepared for Christmas! Do you enjoy making wine cork crafts? 

Christmas Crafts

This past Christmas, my youngest daughter and I stayed busy with several crafts--something I always enjoy, but haven't done in quite a while.

The season began by making a Christmas Tree Skirt from burlap, using my own pattern and trimmed with crochet lace. It's simple and perfect for our tree and decorations.

Next, Abbey designed homemade Christmas Cards for our lady's church group to finish and hand out to residents at an assisted living residence in our area.

One of my most treasured projects included making a rag doll for our granddaughter. 

This is a doll pattern that I used for each of our daughters, so it was extra special to me and the girls. I really enjoyed making this doll and her clothes.

Our holiday crafting ended with a finale Twelve Days of Christmas Tea Party. 

See a special post about the tea party HERE. 

I hope to do more crafting through the year. 

What about you? Do you enjoy any special crafts?

Making Dolls and Dresses

Our granddaughter recently celebrated her first birthday. Being the "homey" grandmother that I am, I wanted to make her a dress and pinafore as well as a doll with a matching dress for my dear little one. 

Years ago, I used to sew all the time and even took part in a family business called Rainbow Connection that sold used children's clothes as well as new handmade outfits that my mother-in-law and I created. Those were fun times! 

Sam in her birthday dress and pinafore and Emma wearing it now. 

Years passed, and I haven't sewn for a long time, but for this granddaughter's 1st birthday, I had to get out the sewing machine! You see, I made each of our daughters their first birthday dresses, so I was obligated! I had also made each of the girls their own dolls--several of them, in fact, so again, I had no choice! 

But my eyes don't see as well as they once did...and those needles are a lot harder to thread! 

And I'm not sure if it's me or the directions given in today's patterns, but they sure seemed a lot more complicated than they once did! I grumbled and grumbled as I made this raggedy doll--this doll that had a chin, and neck, and bottom, and big broad feet with the cutest Mary-Jane slippers, and hair galore! 

Then once I finished it, I immediately rushed it to our youngest daughter and exclaimed..."Isn't she adorable!"

Emma seems to think so too, so I guess all the trials and tribulations of making this outfit and doll were worth it. I even have plans to make a few more dresses and outfits for my kiddo this spring and summer! In fact, I have the pure, sweet pleasure of babysitting Emma this week while her mommy and daddy go on a trip to Chicago. Oh the joys of life. Cherish the moments . . .